Professor turns dissertation
on Brazil into book

By: Amanda Bloomer
Contributing Writer

Monmouth College assistant professor of history Amy Caldwell de Farias has recently published her first book, “Mergulho no Letes.” The full title of this book translates into English as “Immersion in the River Lethes: A Politico-Historical Reinterpretation of the Confederation of Equator.” This book is a revision of her doctoral thesis, and it will make you regret having neglected your Portuguese language tapes for all of these years.

In 2005, de Farias was hired as the Latin American specialist for the Monmouth College history department. According to the college’s press release, de Farias has a master’s in Latin American history as well as a Ph.D. in Iberian and Latin American history, and that is in addition to the ten years (1992-2002) she spent living and working in Brazil. The publication of her book is another credential to add to the list.

The story of her book’s genesis is more than a little serendipitous. It all started with some poetry, which de Farias stumbled upon while researching another project. The identity of the poet was initially unclear, but with a little footwork she was eventually able to ascertain that her mystery poet was, in fact, a leading figure in a revolt which took place in Northeastern Brazil during the 1800s. This inspired her to examine the revolt through the lens of one man’s poetry.

After testing the waters with an article on the subject, de Farias applied for her Ph.D. with her dissertation already in mind.

Ultimately, it was popular demand that ushered de Farias into print. Catholic Pontificate University, where she completed her Ph.D., was receiving a number of requests for copies of her dissertation—it was in high demand among scholars of Brazilian history and literature. So, she was asked to publish.

At the time, she decided not to update her work in favor of future publishing endeavors, but she did clock in approximately So, she was asked to publish.

At the time, she decided not to update her work in favor of future publishing endeavors, but she did clock in approximately fifty additional hours of revision. De Farias’ book was published in November 2006. It has since found an audience in undergraduates, graduates and non-academics alike. Critics have also responded positively, and her book has been lauded as an exemplary treatment of Brazilian history. De Farias says the greatest compliment has been the acceptance of her book by the Brazilian academic community. It is notable that de Farias, as a foreigner writing within a very nationalistic culture, has been welcomed into the fold.

De Farias would eventually like to translate and expand on a selection of her book for an English-speaking audience; meanwhile, we can all share in recognizing the scholarship and craftsmanship of her achievement.