José Olympio (1902-1990)
This outsized gent was the most distinguished publisher of his or my day in Brazil. His handsome books were everywhere and had the names of the country’s most famous writers, from Gilberto Freyre on down.
A friend took me to one of his famed lunches in the ample shop and publishing office in downtown Rio. The scene was a vast spread with plenty of delicious food and autographed pictures of his authors around on the walls.
I didn’t make it onto his list but I did have a brush with fame.
Further Readings
Andrade, Carlos Drummond de. Menino antigo ; (boitempo-II). 2a. ed. Rio de Janeiro: Livraria José Olympio Editora, 1974.
Fonseca, José. Palavra e silêncio. Rio de Janerio: Livraria José Olympio Editora, 1974.
Queiroz, Rachel de. O quinze: romance. 32.nd ed. Rio De Janeiro: Livraria José Olympio Editora, 1984.
José Olympio was born in Batatais, São Paulo. A connoisseur of rare books, Olympio provided consultations for many authors and book collectors. In 1931, he founded Livraria José Olympio Editora, which eventually established itself as Brazil’s largest publishing company. The institution published the works of many famous writers, including Rachel de Queiroz, Orígenes Lessa, and Lygia Fagundes Telles. In 1968, Olympio was awarded the title of Citizen Emeritus of Batatais.