From poet to poetry editor: the trajectory of Machado de Assis for the formation his “Complete Poetry”

Abstract

This work analyzes the employment of Machado de Assis as editor of the collection 'Complete poetry'. The volume was edited by the author and published in 1901. The collection revisits some poems launched in an earlier edition of the 'Crisálidas' (1865), 'Falenas' (1870) and 'Americanas' (1875). Besides these works, the collection also features the last tome of Machado de Assis: 'Ocidentais'. Hyppolite Garnier was the official editor but the Brazilian poet's involvement in the process for the formation of the volume confirms his concretization of project. Preparing, organizing and exercising his literary perceptions, Machado de Assis proved to be poet, critic and editor of his 'Complete poetry'. In addition to writing the poems, the poet selected and/or restructured notes, lines and epigraphs from previously published versions, including deletions and structural modifications made in several poems before their publication. In this sense, the literary trajectory of Machado de Assis for the creation of his 'Complete poetry' is found not only the poems selection and ordering, but also in the ongoing process of editing unpublished work. From the perspective of genetic criticism, whose interdisciplinary aspect requires constant dialogues with various perspectives, and consideration of common points between literature and history, this research allows an understanding of Machado de Assis as poet and editor of poetry. Key-words: Machado de Assis; poetry; genetic critic; reading. (AU)