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Rubens Figueiredo

ルーベンス・フィゲイレード

Rubens Figueiredo

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1956-01-01 （Rio de Janeiro）
Nationality
Brazil
Languages
Portuguese, Russian (specialization), English (used in translation work)

Career

Occupations
writer, translator, professor
Active Years
1986-
Influenced By
Leo Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov, Ivan Turgenev, Martin Amis, Paul Auster, Philip Roth, Susan Sontag

Education

Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Faculty of Letters / Russian Language and Literature
Country: Brazil
Specialized in Russian language and literature

Awards

Jabuti Award
1998
Work: As palavras secretas
Organization: Brazilian Book Chamber (Câmara Brasileira do Livro)
Result: winner
Jabuti Award
2002
Work: Barco a seco
Organization: Brazilian Book Chamber (Câmara Brasileira do Livro)
Result: winner
São Paulo Prize for Literature
2010
Work: Passageiro do fim do dia
Organization: São Paulo Prize for Literature committee
Result: winner
Prêmio Portugal Telecom (Oceanos Prize)
2011
Work: Passageiro do fim do dia
Organization: Prêmio Portugal Telecom / Oceanos
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

O mistério da samambaia bailarina

1986 Novel

An early novel blending humor and strangeness, exploring the oddities hidden in everyday life.

strangeness of everyday lifememory

Essa maldita farinha

1987 Short story collection

A collection of short stories with social allegories, showing a sharp interest in linguistic expression.

social critiquelanguage

A festa do milênio

1990 Novel

A narrative about commemorations and generations, depicting the intersection of transitional times and personal histories.

generationshistory

O livro dos lobos

1994 Novel

A work using metaphorical elements to explore boundaries between solitude and community.

lonelinesscommunity

As palavras secretas

1998 Novel

A mid-career landmark exploring words and silence, portraying how language links individuals and history.

languagememory

Barco a seco

2002 Novel

An experimental, metaphor-rich novel. Winner of the Jabuti Award in 2002.

metaphorexistence

O livro de Pedro

2006 Novel

A story addressing relationships and identity, mixing private narration and historical references.

identitymemory

Passageiro do fim do dia

2010 Novel

A work representative of his mature style. Recognized by the São Paulo Prize for Literature (2010) and the Prêmio Portugal Telecom / Oceanos.

movementendingsloneliness

Bibliography

  • O mistério da samambaia bailarina
  • Essa maldita farinha
  • A festa do milênio
  • O livro dos lobos
  • As palavras secretas
  • Barco a seco
  • O livro de Pedro
  • Passageiro do fim do dia

Translations by Author

  • Leo Tolstoy (translations)
  • Anton Chekhov (translations)
  • Ivan Turgenev (translations)
  • Paul Auster (translations)
  • Philip Roth (translations)
  • Susan Sontag (translations)
  • Martin Amis (translations)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
precise, translation-aware prosenarration emphasizing metaphor and memory
Recurring Motifs
memorymovement/journeyloneliness

Legacy

Regarded in Brazilian literature as both a translator and a writer. Known for translations of Russian literature and for original works that have won major national prizes.

Academic Societies

  • Translation studies-related organizations (various)

Archives

  • Entry in the Brazilian Dictionary of Literary Translators (Federal University of Santa Catarina)

Trivia

  • Known for translations of Russian authors such as Tolstoy, Chekhov and Turgenev.
  • Has taught literary translation at PUC-Rio.
  • Several works have received major Brazilian literary prizes including the Jabuti and the São Paulo Prize for Literature.