The memorialistic writing by Gilberto Amado (1887-1969) is the starting point for my discussing his contribution to the social and political thinking in Brazil. His writing comprises five books, the following being highlighted: História da minha infância (1954) [History of my childhood], Minha formação no Recife (1955) [My education in Recife), Mocidade no Rio e primeira viagem à Europa (1956) [Youth years in Rio and the first trip to Europe], Presença na política (1958) [Present at politics] e Depois da política (1960) [After politics]; these works set the background for understanding the formative elements in the author's reflections and also the possibility of thinking the memorialistic writing as an instrument for meta-theoretical analysis. A twofold focus has been preferred here: (a) investigating the building of the author's narrative identity; b) viewing his memorialistic writing as elaborations on the framings of the Brazilian society, since, by rebuilding his own personal journey from his childhood to elderly years, Amado has contributed to building a remarkable documental source for understanding Republican Brazil.
Gilberto Amado; Memorialistic Writing; Social Thinking in Brazil