The literary criticism of Álvaro Lins

Abstract

Álvaro Lins was one of the biggest names in Brazilian literary criticism between the 40s and 60s. Working in the Correio da Manhã newspaper in Rio de Janeiro between 1941 and 1963, Lins published weekly critical texts whose main function was to analyze the works of new writers and discuss pertinent points about literary subjects. In addition to making several critical comments about literary works Alvaro Lins also published a series of articles in which he investigated the role of literary criticism. More than simple Impressionist criticism, as his work was later to be recognized, Lins understood criticism as an intellectual activity associated with free spirit that comments, analyzes and, above all, judges the literary works. In order to analyze its meta-critical texts, this article aims to investigate the importance of literary criticism for Álvaro Lins and, mainly, to demonstrate how he projected critical work. In tepid times often marked by criticism devoid of creativity and interpretive sensitivity, returning to Lins' thinking becomes a kind of survival manual for future critics and the means of understanding the disenchantment surrounding current literary criticism.