Carolina Maria de Jesus

Biography Memoir
  • Carolina Maria de Jesus was born in 1914 in Sacramento, Brazil.

  • Despite limited formal education, she developed a passion for reading and writing.

  • In 1947, she moved to a São Paulo favela, where she collected recyclable materials and wrote extensively.

  • Her diary, published as "Quarto de Despejo" in 1960, became an international bestseller, exposing the harsh realities of favela life.

  • Carolina's work is considered a significant contribution to Brazilian and Afro-Brazilian literature.

  • Much of her writing remains unpublished, including novels, poems, and plays.

  • Recent projects have worked to organize and preserve her extensive literary legacy.

Books by Carolina Maria de Jesus