Alice Moderno facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alice Moderno
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circa 1908
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| Born |
Alice Augusta Pereira de Melo Maulaz Moderno
11 August 1867 Paris, France
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| Died | 20 February 1946 (aged 78) Ponta Delgada, Portugal
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| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Occupation | writer, feminist and animal welfare activist |
| Years active | 1883–1946 |
| Partner(s) | Maria Evelina de Sousa |
Alice Moderno (born August 11, 1867 – died February 20, 1946) was an important Portuguese writer, a champion for women's rights, and an activist for animal welfare. She worked hard to improve life for women. She also started the very first group dedicated to helping animals in the Azores islands.
Contents
Alice Moderno: A Pioneer Writer and Activist
Alice Moderno was a remarkable woman who made a big difference in Portugal. She used her writing to share her ideas and fought for important causes.
Early Life and Education
Alice Augusta Pereira de Melo Maulaz Moniz Moderno was born in Paris, France, on August 11, 1867. Her father, João Rodrigues Pereira Moderno, was a doctor. Her mother, Celina Pereira de Melo Maulaz, was a talented musician and spoke many languages. Both of her parents were born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
When Alice was seven, her parents separated for a time. A year later, her father returned, and they moved to the Azores islands in Portugal, living in Angra do Heroísmo. Later, her younger siblings, Luís, Vitor, and Maria do Carmo, joined the family.
Moving to Ponta Delgada
In 1883, Alice's family moved to Ponta Delgada on São Miguel Island. Alice missed her friends and family in France. She spent many hours writing poetry, even though her father did not approve.
Her first published work, a poem called Morreu! (Died!), appeared in a newspaper called Açoriano Oriental that same year. In 1885, she published another work, A ti (To You), in a popular book called Almanaque Luso-Brasileiro de Lembranças. This book was a major place for writers from Brazil and Portugal to share their work. Alice published there often until 1889.
Alice Moderno was the first woman to attend high school in the Azores. She studied at the Lyceum Antero de Quental. In 1886, she finished a book called Aspirações (Aspirations). This book was a collection of poems in both French and Portuguese. A famous writer, Camilo Castelo Branco, praised her work.
Alice suffered from bad headaches. Her father suggested cold compresses. But Alice, being strong-willed, caused a stir by cutting off her hair. In 1888, she published another book, Trilos. She then moved out of her father's house. She was determined to support herself by teaching French and Portuguese.
A Career in Writing and Activism
In November 1888, Alice Moderno started her own magazine called Recreio das Salas (Recreation of the Salon). This magazine featured works by many Portuguese writers. She also continued to publish her own poems in the Almanaque.
In 1889, she began working as a journalist for the Diário de Anúncios (Advertising Diary). She published her first novel, Dr. Luís Sandoval, in parts within this newspaper. By 1892, she was in charge of the Diário and preparing her novel to be published as a complete book.
Personal Life and Professional Growth
Around 1893, Alice's father moved to the United States, leaving behind some debts. Alice's writing slowed down as she worked to pay off these debts. She moved in with her friend, Maria Emília Borges de Medeiros.
In 1901, she published Açores, pessoas e coisas (Azores, people and things). The next year, she started her own newspaper, A Folha (The Leaf). She also ran a printing business called Tipografia A. Moderno. In 1904, she returned to the Almanaque to publish a poem in memory of the poet, Luís de Camões.
In 1906, Alice and Maria Borges welcomed Maria Evelina de Sousa, another teacher and writer, into their home. Alice and Maria Evelina lived and worked closely together.
Entrepreneur and Advocate
Alice Moderno was not just a writer. She also ran several businesses. In 1907, she bought a bookstore that sold books from around the world. Two years later, she bought a pineapple farm. She grew pineapples to sell in the United States. She also worked as an insurance agent for different companies.
In 1908, Alice Moderno and Maria Evelina de Sousa created the first animal welfare organization in the Azores. It was called the Micaelense Society for the Protection of Animals (Portuguese: Sociedade Micaelense Protetora dos Animais).
Alice supported the idea of Portugal becoming a republic, which means having a government led by elected officials instead of a king or queen. She supported the political change that replaced the monarchy in 1910. After this change, she wrote many articles. She argued for women's right to divorce to protect them. She also pushed for better education for women and for women's rights in general. She joined the Republican League of Portuguese Women and was very active in their work. In August 1912, while visiting Lisbon, Alice and Maria Evelina were honored by the Republican League. They were recognized for being the main leaders in fighting for women's rights and education in the Azores.
Alice also edited a magazine called Revista Pedagógica (Pedagogical Magazine), which Maria Evelina founded. Maria Evelina worked on the editorial team of Alice's newspaper, A Folha. In the 1940s, Alice and Maria Evelina were often seen walking their dog in Ponta Delgada. Alice would often wear men's clothing, use a walking stick, and smoke a cigar.
Death and Legacy
Alice Moderno passed away on February 20, 1946. This was just eight days after her partner of forty years, Maria Evelina de Sousa, had died. Alice was buried in the Cemetery of São Joaquim in Ponta Delgada, in a crypt with Maria Evelina.
In 2015, an exhibition honoring Alice Moderno was held at the Public Library and Regional Archive of Ponta Delgada. It ran for six months, celebrating her life and contributions.
Selected works
- Morreu! (Died!) (1883)
- A ti (To You) (1885)
- Aspirações (Aspirations) (1886)
- Trilos (1888)
- Dr. Luís Sandoval (1889, serialized; book 1892)
- Os mártires do amor (The Martyrs of Love) (1894)
- Açores, pessoas e coisas (Azores, people and things) (1901)
- Camões (1904)
