📖 Overview
História das Crianças no Brasil by Mary Del Priore examines the historical experiences of children in Brazil from colonial times through the modern era. The book draws on extensive research and primary sources to document how Brazilian society viewed and treated children across different time periods.
The text covers topics including child labor, education, family structures, and the distinct experiences of indigenous, enslaved, and immigrant children. Del Priore analyzes historical records, letters, legal documents, and other materials to reconstruct the daily lives and social conditions these children faced.
Through multiple contributors and perspectives, the book traces how concepts of childhood evolved in Brazil alongside broader social, economic and cultural transformations. The work stands as a key reference on Brazilian childhood history and raises questions about how past treatment of children continues to influence modern society.
👀 Reviews
Based on the available reader reviews online:
Many readers note the book's role in documenting Brazilian childhood history through first-hand accounts and period documents. Students and researchers cite its usefulness as a reference text.
Readers appreciated:
- The depth of archival research
- Coverage of both wealthy and poor children's experiences
- Focus on racial and social class dynamics
- Inclusion of photographs and historical documents
Common criticisms:
- Dense academic language that can be difficult to follow
- Occasional repetition of information
- Limited coverage of certain time periods and regions
No ratings are currently available on Goodreads. The book is used primarily in academic settings, with few public reviews on major retail sites. Reviews appear mainly on Brazilian academic citation indexes and university library catalogs.
A reader on Skoob (Brazilian book review site) noted: "Important historical documentation but requires patience due to the academic writing style."
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🤔 Interesting facts
🔹 Mary Del Priore is one of Brazil's most renowned historians, having written over 40 books about Brazilian social and cultural history, with a special focus on women's and children's lives.
🔹 The book reveals how indigenous children in colonial Brazil were often targeted by Jesuit missionaries for conversion and education, as they were seen as more receptive to Christianity than adults.
🔹 During Brazil's slavery period (1530-1888), enslaved children as young as 4 years old were forced to work, and the book documents how they were often separated from their mothers and sold independently.
🔹 The author shows how child labor remained prevalent in Brazil well into the 20th century, with children working in factories during the country's industrialization period, leading to the creation of the first child protection laws in the 1920s.
🔹 The book traces the evolution of childhood in Brazil from colonial times to the present, examining how concepts of childhood varied dramatically between social classes and racial groups throughout Brazilian history.