Maria Archer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maria Archer
Born	Maria Emilia Archer Eyrolles Baltasar Moreira 4 January 1899 Lisbon, Portugal
Died	23 January 1982(1982-01-23) (aged 83) Lisbon, Portugal
Nationality	Portuguese
Occupation	Writer, activist, playwright
Known for	Sertanejos (book)
Spouse(s)	Alberto Teixeira Passos
Awards	Maria Amália Vaz de Carvalho Prize - Children's Literature (1938)

Maria Archer (born Maria Emilia Archer Eyrolles Baltasar Moreira; January 4, 1899 – January 23, 1982) was a famous writer and activist from Lisbon, Portugal. She wrote many books and plays, and she stood up for what she believed in.

Her Life Story

Maria Archer was born in Lisbon, Portugal. But she spent most of her life living outside of Portugal. Her parents traveled a lot with their six children. Because of this, Maria didn't finish elementary school at the usual age. She learned most things by herself, becoming a self-taught writer. People say she started writing poems when she was very young.

In 1910, her family moved to Mozambique, a country in Africa. They returned to Portugal in 1914. But just two years later, they were back in Africa, this time in Guinea-Bissau.

In 1921, Maria Archer married Alberto Teixeira Passos. They lived on an island called Ibo in Mozambique. Five years later, her husband lost his job. This happened after a big change in the government there. So, they moved to Faro, Portugal. In 1931, Maria and Alberto divorced.

Starting Her Writing Career

After her divorce, Maria Archer went back to Africa. She lived with her parents in Luanda, Angola. This is where she truly began her writing career. She started going to writing events. Her first published works appeared in magazines.

Her first book was called Três Mulheres (which means Three Women). She described it as a "soap opera." This book was published with another story by a different writer.

Maria then returned to Lisbon, Portugal. She started writing a lot, especially about her experiences in Africa. In 1945, she also became an activist. She joined a group called the Movement of Democratic Unity (MUD). This group was against the strict government of President Salazar in Portugal.

Facing Challenges and Exile

Because she was an activist, Maria started having problems with the political police. Her books were censored, meaning parts were removed or changed. Her novel Casa Sem Pão (1947) was even taken away by the police.

A writer named Dina Botelho said that Maria Archer closely followed a trial against a person who challenged the Salazar government. Maria wanted to write a book about it. But soon after the trial ended in 1953, the police searched her home. She eventually published the book in Brazil in 1959. It was called The Last Days of Portuguese Fascism.

Since she couldn't make money from her writing in Portugal, Maria left for Brazil. She arrived there on July 15, 1955.

Life in Exile

While in Brazil, Maria Archer faced difficulties. She was "poor and sick." But she still wrote for newspapers there. She wrote for O Estado de S. Paulo, Semana Portuguesa, and Portugal Democrático. Her writing was about African topics and also against the Portuguese dictatorship. She also wrote for Brazilian and Portuguese-Brazilian magazines.

During her time living away from Portugal, she wrote five books. However, only four of them have clear records of being published in Brazil.

Her Later Years

By the end of her career, Maria Archer had written over 30 works. These included adventure novels for children, novels for adults, and plays. Some of her books were printed many times.

Finally, in 1979, she returned to Lisbon for the last time. She moved into a care home on April 26. She spent her last three years there. Maria Archer passed away in 1982 at the age of 83.

What People Said About Her

In 1930, writer João Gaspar Simões wrote about Maria Archer. He said, "I don't know another Portuguese writer who is so brave with their topics and ideas. She also has such a strong and unique way of expressing herself. Her writing feels powerful and solid."

Her Books and Plays

Maria Archer wrote many different types of works. These included novels, short stories, essays, and plays.

• Três Mulheres (Three Women) (with Pinto Quartim Graça) - Luanda, 1935
• África Selvagem (Wild Africa) - Lisbon, 1935
• Sertanejos - Lisbon, 1936
• Singularidades de Um País Distante (Unique Things About a Distant Country) - Lisbon, 1936
• Ninho de Bárbaros (Barbarian's Nest) - Lisbon, 1936
• Angola Filme (Angola Movie) - Lisbon, 1937
• Ida e Volta duma Caixa de Cigarros (Roundtrip from a Cigarette Box) - Lisbon, 1938
• Viagem à Roda de África (Journey Around Africa) - a children's adventure novel, Lisbon, 1938
• Colónias Piscatórias em Angola (Fishing Colonies in Angola) - Lisbon, 1938
• Caleidoscópio Africano (African Kaleidoscope) - Lisbon, 1938
• Há dois Ladrões sem Cadastro (There are Two Thieves without a Record) - Lisbon, 1940
• Roteiro do Mundo Português (Portuguese World Tour) - Lisbon, 1940
• Fauno Sovina - Lisbon, 1941
• Memórias da Linha de Cascais (Memories of the Cascais Line) - with Branca de Gonta Colaço, Lisbon, 1943
• Os Parques Infantis (The Children's Parks) - Lisbon, 1943
• Ela É Apenas Mulher (She's Just a Woman) - with António Maria Pereira, Lisbon, 1944
• Aristocratas (Aristocrats) - Lisbon, 1945
• Eu e Elas, Apontamentos de Romancista (Me and Them, Novelist Notes) - Lisbon, 1945
• A Morte Veio de Madrugada (Death Came at Dawn) - Coimbra, 1946
• Casa Sem Pão (House Without Bread) - Lisbon, 1947
• Há-de Haver uma Lei (There Will Be a Law) - Lisbon, 1949
• O Mal Não Está em Nós (Evil Is Not in Us) - Porto, 1950
• Filosofia duma Mulher Moderna (Philosophy of a Modern Woman) - Porto, 1950
• Bato às Portas da Vida (I Knock at Life's Doors) - Lisbon, 1951
• Nada lhe Será Perdoado (Nothing Will Be Forgiven) - Lisbon, 1953
• A Primeira Vítima do Diabo (The Devil's First Victim) - Lisbon, 1954
• Terras onde se fala Português (Lands where Portuguese is spoken) - Rio de Janeiro, 1957
• Os Últimos Dias do Fascismo Português (The Last Days of Portuguese Fascism) - São Paulo, 1959
• África Sem Luz (Africa Without Light) - São Paulo, 1962
• Brasil, Fronteira da África (Brazil, Frontier of Africa) - São Paulo, 1963
• Herança Lusíada (Lusitanian Heritage) - Lisbon, undated

Plays

• Alfacinha - a comedy for one character, published in Sol, 1949
• Isto que Chamam Amor (This They Call Love) - a drama for one character.
• Numa Casa Abandonada (In an Abandoned House) - a drama for one character.
• O Poder do Dinheiro (The Power of Money) - a comedy in three acts
• O Leilão (The Auction) - a drama in three acts

See also

In Spanish: Maria Archer para niños