Augusto dos Anjos: the heritage-poet of Mineira Athens

Abstract:

This article analyzes the process of symbolic appropriation of Augusto dos Anjos by the city of Leopoldina (state of Minas Gerais), where he spent his last five months of life. Over the hundred years since his death, a series of actions have reiterated the poet’s recognition as a municipal heritage. We seek to understand this phenomenon from Augusto dos Anjos’ trajectory, from his birth (in Engenho Pau-d’Arco, Paraíba, 1884) to his death (in Leopoldina, 1914) and the city’s place in the socio-cultural, political and economic scenario in Minas Gerais, from the end of the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century, which earned the municipality the epithet of Atenas Mineira. The research made use of bibliographical and documentary sources, which allowed us to understand the main milestones in the immortalization of the poet undertaken in Leopoldina, and the actions that sought to establish a binding memory between him and the city.

Keywords:
Augusto dos Anjos (1884-1914); Immortalization; Cultural heritage