Banditry in the backlands of Brazil: the case of Jesuíno Brilhante (19th century)

This book offers a valuable contribution to the social history of crime and banditry in Brazil by analyzing the trajectory of Jesuíno Brilhante beyond the myth of the "good bandit" and the hero present in popular culture. By following the life of a man who lived in the 19th-century backlands, the work reveals the tensions between legal and illegal practices and the demands of a concrete sociocultural and geographical reality. Operating in the provinces of Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará, and Paraíba, Jesuíno Brilhante sought to secure territorial political power and control over natural resources in one of the most arid and poorest regions of the country. To this end, he relied on an extensive and solid network of support and alliances, which enabled success in various ventures, such as robberies, invasions, and assistance actions with the poor population, highlighting the complex articulation between violence, sociability, and power. In addition to broadening the debate on banditry, the book highlights the power of the micro-analytical approach for a better understanding of already known historical phenomena. By paying attention to clues, silences, and the cross-referencing of varied sources, the analysis of Jesuíno Brilhante's trajectory allows access to previously invisible contexts and the formulation of new research problems. Starting from a crystallized image of the "greatest bandit" of the 19th century, Francisco Linhares does not allow himself to be seduced by pre-established explanations; on the contrary, with the spirit of a hunter pursuing his prey, he pays attention to the traces and fragments left by the character. Following this perspective, he proposes a reinterpretation of the relationship between violence, power, and environment, in which the sertão (backlands) emerges as a social construct.

Prof. Dr. Maíra Ines Vendrame (CNPq Productivity Fellow, Visiting Professor in the Postgraduate Program in History at UFPel and Permanent Professor in the Postgraduate Program in History at UFJF)

Few themes captivate the Brazilian imagination more than the rural banditry that marked almost a century of our social history. Rich in events, violence, and movements across the vast, rugged landscapes of the country's interior, lived by charismatic characters with a rich visual appeal. It is this colorful scenario, with the colors of the semi-arid land, that is brought to us by the hands of Francisco Linhares and the story of a character who plays a central role in the construction of this imaginary that became cangaço: Jesuíno Brilhante. Heroes/villains of a world near and far, leaving marks of a sertanejo culture that still seduces.

Prof. Dr. Marcos Bretas
(Institute of History - UFRJ)