Love and Fight – Moisés Santos Reis Amaral’s (PMF/BA) review of “Gente de Lampião: Dadá e Corisco”, by Antonio Amaury Corrêa de Araújo
Antônio Amaury Corrêa de Araújo| Imagem: Cangaçologia
Abstract: In Gente de Lampião: Dadá e Corisco, Antônio Amaury Corrêa de Araújo narrates the lives of Dadá and Corisco in the cangaço, exploring their origins and challenges. The work, recognized by experts, combines oral reports with historical analyses. Despite being limited by the emphasis on orality, it represents a valuable contribution to the historiography of cangaço, standing out for its engaging narrative style and interviews with contemporaries.
Keywords: Cangaço, Dadá, Corisco.
Gente de Lampião: Dadá e Corisco, by Antônio Amaury Corrêa de Araújo, one of the most renowned authors about cangaço, was published by Editora Real in its fourth edition of 2021. This historical synthesis book narrates the events in the lives of Dadá and Corisco, the second most notorious couple in the history of cangaço, covering the period before and during banditry, including the attempted escape in 1940. The work is widely recognized by experts on the subject.
Born in Boa Esperança do Sul and a dentist, Antônio Amaury Corrêa de Araújo passionately dedicated himself to studying the social phenomenon of cangaço. His more than six decades of research in the Northeast resulted in more than twenty works, either individually or in co-authorship. This particular book is the result of his friendship with the former cangaceira Dadá, who survived the last cangaço fight, in which her husband Corisco died. For years, Amaury cultivated Dadá’s trust, even hosting her for six months in São Paulo. She was the main source of narratives in the book, complemented by reports from former cangaço companions, collected by the author. The work, divided into 22 chapters and containing more than three hundred pages, ends with a “Photo Gallery”, presenting a valuable iconographic collection of the cangaço.
In the first chapter, the author describes Dadá’s childhood in the backlands of Pernambuco in the first decades of the 20th century. Narrated in the first person, the text reveals the mud houses where Dadá lived, the coexistence with his brothers, the difficult routine of fetching water from leagues away, in addition to his first encounters with bandits. This chapter manages to effectively capture the country environment of the time.
The second chapter focuses on Corisco, covering his life since childhood. The author traveled to Alagoas, interviewing people and collecting documents to report the trajectory of Cristino Gomes da Silva Cleto, known as Corisco. The reader is introduced to the character’s first years of life, his first homicide in defense of honor, a common act in the Northeast of that period, which led him to flee and seek refuge under the protection of Lampião, becoming one of his men. trust.
In the third chapter, the focus is on the beginning of Corisco’s interest in Dadá, based on the former bandit’s memories. At age 13, Dadá was courted by Corisco, despite her mother’s objections. The author narrates the evolution of this relationship, from Dadá’s initial hostility to the emergence of a complicated affection for the man who became her protector. The text addresses with respect and sensitivity the challenges faced by Dadá, especially regarding the topic of sex.
The fourth chapter reveals the artistic talents of the cangaceiros. Generally held at parties and dances in quiet places, they invited local girls to dance to the sound of the accordion, played by regional musicians. Furthermore, some cangaceiros had natural abilities for music and composition. The author transcribes songs and songs that talk about the backlands, fighting, love, and that glorify figures like Lampião and other famous cangaceiros.
In the fifth chapter, the narrative turns to a specific trip by Corisco, Dadá and their group through the Alagoas caatingas. This segment, taken from Dadá’s memories, highlights her courage and tenderness, illustrated by a moment in which she welcomes an unknown child into her arms, under the admiring gaze of her husband.
The sixth chapter, similar to the fourth, addresses the cangaceiros’ predilection for parties. The reader notices the underlying tension, even in moments of relaxation, when musicians were forced to accompany the group and play for the cangaceiros to dance for hours. This chapter is marked by tension, deaths and extortion.
The seventh chapter tells the story of Dadá’s brother, Pedro, who after being punished by the steering wheel due to his sister’s association with the cangaço, decides to join the Corisco gang, meeting a tragic end months later due to an accidental shooting.
In the eighth chapter, the challenges faced by Dadá and Otília, wife of the cangaceiro Mariano, are narrated during their pregnancy, when the group is forced to flee to find a safe place to give birth. The author, for the first time, contrasts Dadá’s account with primary sources, citing a letter from Mariano to the vicar responsible for welcoming his newborn son.
From the ninth to the fifteenth chapters, the author describes a series of isolated events in the lives of Corisco and Dadá in cangaço, portraying the various adventures and dangers of this wandering life. The narrative stands out for the frequent use of dialogues in rustic language.
The sixteenth chapter discusses the socioeconomic conditions and the scenario of violence that led many country people to become bandits, offering the reader an in-depth reflection on the topic.
In the seventeenth and eighteenth chapters, biographical profiles of men who served Corisco over the years are outlined, highlighting their loyalty and devotion to the “Blonde Devil”, exemplified by the battle at “Rio do Peixe”.
Corisco e Dadá, em imagem colorizada (Crédito Rubens Antonio) | Imagem: aventurasnahistoria.uol.
In the tenth chapter, a striking episode is reported involving the cat cangaceiro, known for his cruelty, who tries to rescue his mate prey, causing several deaths such as revenge, before being shot down in Piranhas, Alagoas.
The twentieth chapter narrates the most impactful event of cangaço: the attack on Angico and the death of Lampião and nine other cangaceiros. The narrative offers a unique perspective of the members of the Corisco group who, not being in the battle, heard the shooting at a distance and then received the news of the leader’s death.
The twentieth first chapter analyzes the repercussions of what happened in the previous chapter, focusing on the dismantling of the cangaço support networks and the moral impact of Lampião’s death on cangaceiros. The author also reports Corisco’s revenge in the episode known as the Patos Farm Massacre.
In the final chapter, the final moments of the cangaço phenomenon are described, including the rendering of the gangs, the attempted escape of Dada and Corisco and the final confrontation that resulted in the amputation of the leg of Dada and the death of Corisco, slaughtered by police forces Lieutenant José Osório de Farias, the famous Zé Rufino. The narrative, told from the perspective of Sergia Ribeiro, Dada, is engaging and detailed.
As a negative point, the exclusive emphasis on orality stands out, without effective dialogue with other sources, limiting the scientific rigor of the work. On the other hand, as positive aspects, it is emphasized the interviews with contemporary and the record of stories that could have been lost over time, besides the narrative style of the author who conveys to the reader the emotion of each battle and episode narrated by Dada. The work represents a significant contribution to the historiography of the subject, fulfilling the central objectives announced by its author.
ARAÚJO, Antônio Amaury Corrêa de. Gente de Lampião: Dadá e Corisco. 4ed. Cajazeiras: Real, 2021. 328p. Reviewer by: AMARAL, Moisés Santos Reis. Amor e Luta. Crítica Historiográfica. Natal, v.3, n.13, Sep/Oct., 2023. Available at <Love and Fight – Moisés Santos Reis Amaral’s (PMF/BA) review of “People of Lampião: Dada and Corisco”, by Antonio Amaury Corrêa de Araújo – Crítica Historiografica (criticahistoriografica.com.br)>.
Love and Fight – Moisés Santos Reis Amaral’s (PMF/BA) review of “Gente de Lampião: Dadá e Corisco”, by Antonio Amaury Corrêa de Araújo
31 October 2023
Antônio Amaury Corrêa de Araújo| Imagem: Cangaçologia
Abstract: In Gente de Lampião: Dadá e Corisco, Antônio Amaury Corrêa de Araújo narrates the lives of Dadá and Corisco in the cangaço, exploring their origins and challenges. The work, recognized by experts, combines oral reports with historical analyses. Despite being limited by the emphasis on orality, it represents a valuable contribution to the historiography of cangaço, standing out for its engaging narrative style and interviews with contemporaries.
Keywords: Cangaço, Dadá, Corisco.
Gente de Lampião: Dadá e Corisco, by Antônio Amaury Corrêa de Araújo, one of the most renowned authors about cangaço, was published by Editora Real in its fourth edition of 2021. This historical synthesis book narrates the events in the lives of Dadá and Corisco, the second most notorious couple in the history of cangaço, covering the period before and during banditry, including the attempted escape in 1940. The work is widely recognized by experts on the subject.
Born in Boa Esperança do Sul and a dentist, Antônio Amaury Corrêa de Araújo passionately dedicated himself to studying the social phenomenon of cangaço. His more than six decades of research in the Northeast resulted in more than twenty works, either individually or in co-authorship. This particular book is the result of his friendship with the former cangaceira Dadá, who survived the last cangaço fight, in which her husband Corisco died. For years, Amaury cultivated Dadá’s trust, even hosting her for six months in São Paulo. She was the main source of narratives in the book, complemented by reports from former cangaço companions, collected by the author. The work, divided into 22 chapters and containing more than three hundred pages, ends with a “Photo Gallery”, presenting a valuable iconographic collection of the cangaço.
In the first chapter, the author describes Dadá’s childhood in the backlands of Pernambuco in the first decades of the 20th century. Narrated in the first person, the text reveals the mud houses where Dadá lived, the coexistence with his brothers, the difficult routine of fetching water from leagues away, in addition to his first encounters with bandits. This chapter manages to effectively capture the country environment of the time.
The second chapter focuses on Corisco, covering his life since childhood. The author traveled to Alagoas, interviewing people and collecting documents to report the trajectory of Cristino Gomes da Silva Cleto, known as Corisco. The reader is introduced to the character’s first years of life, his first homicide in defense of honor, a common act in the Northeast of that period, which led him to flee and seek refuge under the protection of Lampião, becoming one of his men. trust.
In the third chapter, the focus is on the beginning of Corisco’s interest in Dadá, based on the former bandit’s memories. At age 13, Dadá was courted by Corisco, despite her mother’s objections. The author narrates the evolution of this relationship, from Dadá’s initial hostility to the emergence of a complicated affection for the man who became her protector. The text addresses with respect and sensitivity the challenges faced by Dadá, especially regarding the topic of sex.
The fourth chapter reveals the artistic talents of the cangaceiros. Generally held at parties and dances in quiet places, they invited local girls to dance to the sound of the accordion, played by regional musicians. Furthermore, some cangaceiros had natural abilities for music and composition. The author transcribes songs and songs that talk about the backlands, fighting, love, and that glorify figures like Lampião and other famous cangaceiros.
In the fifth chapter, the narrative turns to a specific trip by Corisco, Dadá and their group through the Alagoas caatingas. This segment, taken from Dadá’s memories, highlights her courage and tenderness, illustrated by a moment in which she welcomes an unknown child into her arms, under the admiring gaze of her husband.
The sixth chapter, similar to the fourth, addresses the cangaceiros’ predilection for parties. The reader notices the underlying tension, even in moments of relaxation, when musicians were forced to accompany the group and play for the cangaceiros to dance for hours. This chapter is marked by tension, deaths and extortion.
The seventh chapter tells the story of Dadá’s brother, Pedro, who after being punished by the steering wheel due to his sister’s association with the cangaço, decides to join the Corisco gang, meeting a tragic end months later due to an accidental shooting.
In the eighth chapter, the challenges faced by Dadá and Otília, wife of the cangaceiro Mariano, are narrated during their pregnancy, when the group is forced to flee to find a safe place to give birth. The author, for the first time, contrasts Dadá’s account with primary sources, citing a letter from Mariano to the vicar responsible for welcoming his newborn son.
From the ninth to the fifteenth chapters, the author describes a series of isolated events in the lives of Corisco and Dadá in cangaço, portraying the various adventures and dangers of this wandering life. The narrative stands out for the frequent use of dialogues in rustic language.
The sixteenth chapter discusses the socioeconomic conditions and the scenario of violence that led many country people to become bandits, offering the reader an in-depth reflection on the topic.
In the seventeenth and eighteenth chapters, biographical profiles of men who served Corisco over the years are outlined, highlighting their loyalty and devotion to the “Blonde Devil”, exemplified by the battle at “Rio do Peixe”.
Corisco e Dadá, em imagem colorizada (Crédito Rubens Antonio) | Imagem: aventurasnahistoria.uol.
In the tenth chapter, a striking episode is reported involving the cat cangaceiro, known for his cruelty, who tries to rescue his mate prey, causing several deaths such as revenge, before being shot down in Piranhas, Alagoas.
The twentieth chapter narrates the most impactful event of cangaço: the attack on Angico and the death of Lampião and nine other cangaceiros. The narrative offers a unique perspective of the members of the Corisco group who, not being in the battle, heard the shooting at a distance and then received the news of the leader’s death.
The twentieth first chapter analyzes the repercussions of what happened in the previous chapter, focusing on the dismantling of the cangaço support networks and the moral impact of Lampião’s death on cangaceiros. The author also reports Corisco’s revenge in the episode known as the Patos Farm Massacre.
In the final chapter, the final moments of the cangaço phenomenon are described, including the rendering of the gangs, the attempted escape of Dada and Corisco and the final confrontation that resulted in the amputation of the leg of Dada and the death of Corisco, slaughtered by police forces Lieutenant José Osório de Farias, the famous Zé Rufino. The narrative, told from the perspective of Sergia Ribeiro, Dada, is engaging and detailed.
As a negative point, the exclusive emphasis on orality stands out, without effective dialogue with other sources, limiting the scientific rigor of the work. On the other hand, as positive aspects, it is emphasized the interviews with contemporary and the record of stories that could have been lost over time, besides the narrative style of the author who conveys to the reader the emotion of each battle and episode narrated by Dada. The work represents a significant contribution to the historiography of the subject, fulfilling the central objectives announced by its author.
ARAÚJO, Antônio Amaury Corrêa de. Gente de Lampião: Dadá e Corisco. 4ed. Cajazeiras: Real, 2021. 328p. Reviewer by: AMARAL, Moisés Santos Reis. Amor e Luta. Crítica Historiográfica. Natal, v.3, n.13, Sep/Oct., 2023. Available at <Love and Fight – Moisés Santos Reis Amaral’s (PMF/BA) review of “People of Lampião: Dada and Corisco”, by Antonio Amaury Corrêa de Araújo – Crítica Historiografica (criticahistoriografica.com.br)>.
Ao se inscrever nesta lista de e-mails, você estará sujeito à nossa política de privacidade.
Acesso livre
Crítica Historiográfica não cobra taxas para submissão, publicação ou uso dos artigos. Os leitores podem baixar, copiar, distribuir, imprimir os textos para fins não comerciais, desde que citem a fonte.
Somos professore(a)s do ensino superior brasileiro, especializado(a)s em mais de duas dezenas de áreas relacionadas à reflexão, produção e usos da História. Faça parte dessa equipe.
Submissões
As resenhas devem expressar avaliações de livros ou de dossiês de revistas acadêmicas autodesignadas como "de História". Conheça as normas e envie-nos o seu texto.
Moisés Santos Reis Amaral is Master (UFS) and Licensed (AGES) in History and acts as a history teacher in the city of Fatima (PMF/BA). Among other works, published “Manual didático do professor de História: História local e aprendizagem significativa” (2019). ID LATTES: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do; ID ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5676-8762; E-mail: [email protected].
