Alexandre Rocha, a computer engineer, debuts in the world of writing with an historical novel about a little-known event in the Luso-Brazilian history who accompanied him for over 15 years and it finally became paper in the form of book.
Why you chose that particular period? For the obvious association to Brazil?
Alexandre Rocha: The story of this book is long. There are two times. It began in 1995 with the rebirth of Brazilian cinema through "Carlota Joaquina" of Carla Camurati, the film struck me for its history and then was in the Royal Portuguese Reading Cabinet, in Rio de Janeiro, and I remember finding a very old, tiny book, which talked about a conspiracy of noble men. I do not remember any history book school speaking of this event, which in fact happened, although it was too little to report. I took notes, but I never thought I would write a book. Some years after the first part of the book were written, in 1997, but have been dormant for a long time. Until recently, in 2010, took the initiative to restore the first part that was outdated in terms of grammar, was written by a teenager, who was then 20 years old and looking back at some of our work, I do not say renege, there is a certain inexperience in the writing and I only lacked to sit, rewrite and do the research that I thought relevant to finish it, because the story itself was always in my head. Although, is not a history book, is trying to bring a little romance to the story.
When you had the idea for this book, the interim between the present, the contemporary Brazil and the past, the Brazil of large farms, was something you thought from the beginning?
AR: Yes, particularly this type of theme, which is different, the occult, attracts me. I remember my godmother having at home numerous publications on the gender, planet magazine that is published until today, it dealt with the occult and all kinds of literature related to these issues. From the beginning, the end was written that way, I did not always write in an orderly fashion, redid much of the development of the story, but other chapters were well written and this particular one was one of them.
The occult, certain mysticism appears in the book because you are originally from Brazil. It is a strong component of Brazilian culture.
AR: The customs of the black people, the whole culture of orishas were covered in the magazine that I mentioned earlier. This was not a publication made by charlatans quite the contrary, they tried to approach the occult in a very scientific manner and I remember having read great works on these subjects. At the time I kept in my mind this theme of the orishas, in particular, the exu, which is an entity that is closer to men, making a comparison with the monotheistic religions in Catholic culture would be associated with the devil. When I wrote the book I was researching African culture in Brazil, because it is an important aspect of the story. I remember a book that struck me "the boy's mill" of José Luiz do Rego. This works for me, was essential, is a classic of Brazilian literature, where I picked up this memory of what the Brazilian northeast, what it was this familiarity with the slaves, I tried to recreate a bit of this time. The Portuguese side, there is a scathing critique, irony and some who are unfamiliar with the writing of Eça de Queirós, which for me is by far my favorite writer, recognize a certain similarity, which I was trying to drink out of passion and love for his work. Then I tried to pass a common vision of the Portuguese, in this sense, one of the characters, Alberto, is a metaphor of who are these people, their simplicity, their loyalty and friendship, although there is also extreme, because Theophilus, is the anti- hero.
I noticed that you use a terminology when talking about the everyday on the farm. Had to do a lot of research to understand and be able to describe the dynamics of a producing cane sugar farm?
AR: Mostly the "boy's mill" was a great inspiration. I remember a part where the protagonist, Miguel Herculano shows the farm and talk to Maria Carolina of the machinery and various spaces. The studies I have been done were research on the internet, I'm also connected to the world of technology, through the professional side, and I graduated in computer engineering. One of the positive reviews made to me is that I did not include all the literature I consulted and I think it is very relevant, so for the next book I'm writing down all the references, whether virtual or real.
The character Miguel Herculaneum has a very adventurous and eventful life, his love life, on the other hand, is not so happy, due to the curse of the slave. You always had this idea in mind?
AR: The curse of the slave is only a part. I leave it to the attention of the reader, is the curse of the slave real? Is it decisive? These things really happened because of it? The book, of course, implies that, yes, but maybe not. I already had in mind the encounter of those two characters at the end, Miguel and Maria Carolina, obviously I had not structured every detail in my head, these were born thru the research, in particular the Portuguese side that was not properly written, was further worked. The final was already decided; sometimes the endings are not always happy. I tried to look out for realism; it would be convenient to finish a book beautifully and sweet. It seemed to me that was more normal, although there were days when I sat down to write and I did do not know what I would do, throughout this process of reading and reflection. Writing is not only inspiration is hard work, there were days I have felt this difficulty. The life of the character Miguel resulted of some of that writing process.
This was the first novel you published?
AR: Let's say yes. I came to the world of writing, because someone helped me, gave me a hand and that person was Professor Isabel Sodré, my teacher in the technique school of Brazil, who looked at my work and helped me to do a review on my writing and I learned a lot with this whole process. A short novel was published in a small technology fair, when I was 15, but I can say that this was the first serious book, this is my first work.
The conspiracy of nobles is everything you dreamed? There is nothing more to add? Or withdraw?
AR: It is very difficult to say if there is anything else to add or withdraw, as I said, the book is as I imagined. Up to the cover I already had a preconceived idea, and when the publisher decided that part and I was somewhat apprehensive, but then I in the end I was very surprised with the result, I felt very calm when I saw it, had a very simple layout and very good taste. I do not know if I have this distance, because I'm working on something different now to look back and think. I'm in another wave. Do not know if I'll ever be one of disbelieve his work, I have an immense affection for the book, is like a child.
Said earlier that you are developing a new book, is it a new historical novel?
AR: Yes it will be a historical novel, not so deeply creased as "a conspiracy of nobles", but willingly I am enter willingly in a hornet's nest that is to write about the theme of the Spanish Civil War. It is very difficult to write about this era, because it is a time of extremes here and I want to mix a bit of assay and the historical novel. I have tried to carry this vision of time, through a critical perception. It has two stories; one current and one more that brings us to this point, there will be an interconnection through the characters and once more the mystical side.
Will edit a book for next year?
AR: I have not a certain date; I' m researching and writing when time allows me. It is difficult to reconcile the writing with my professional life. "The conspiracy of nobles" was written over five months was a difficult time, I worked in a factory in Vila do Conde, which closed Quimonda and I was not working at this time, I thought it was an opportunity to write, I've involved myself in this project the whole time without stopping. Today it is more difficult when you are working, the time that I use is the excess, I work driving on passion, and I do it only because I love it. Nowadays it is very difficult to live of the writing of books, there are rare exceptions.
If you could choose, would you leave the engineering in favor of the writing? Or you always kept these two parallel worlds?
AR: I think that I kept the two worlds, because it is very difficult for me not to be sitting at the computer, I just get dredged by it. I am a creature of two worlds; it would be difficult to separate.
What is your favorite literary genre?
AR: The historical novel and the essay. Now I have lots of books on the Spanish Civil War, although the literature is very present, with Eça de Queirós and Jose Luiz do Rego. I'm a prose writer by nature.
