Exploring Terra Crua: For the genesis of the book wrote by Jorge Ferreira Duque Estrada

Abstract

In this article, we present some of the results of our studies on the genesis of the book Terra crua, written by Jorge Ferreira Duque Estrada. That work was the first to be published on the History of Maringá-PR. Duque Estrada was a witness to the formation of the city and an active participant in the events of the first municipal election, themes addressed by the author in his book in a memorialistic tone. Our research was based on the Genetic Criticism approach, relying on Biasi (2010) and Pino and Zular (2007). We compare the version published by the author in 1961 with his manuscript, entitled Originais do livro Terra crua, composed of two typewritten texts revised by hand by the author. In addition, we analyze a typewritten letter that Duque Estrada sent to Luiz Moreira de Carvalho, mayor of Maringá, in 1966. From this, we discuss the author’s motivations for publishing the book, highlighting his intention to “photograph” the first moments of the city, a vision about the work that will be accentuated after the publication of Terra crua, in the speeches of academics, memoirists and agents of the local public power. Finally, we will evaluate some of the inclusions and exclusions of themes made by the author in the manuscript, exploring their possible motivations and their consequences.