Machado de assis biography of christopher

Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis (), better known as Machado de Assis, was a Brazilian short story writer, poet, and novelist considered the most influential writer of Brazilian literary schools of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, exemplary of Realism. The theme of many of his stories centers around jealousy and its intrigue. Though he did not gain popularity outside Brazil during his lifetime, the most prestigious literary award in Brazil was named in his honor, influencing authors such as Carlos Fuentes, Susan Sontag and Thomas McGuane.

Assis was born in Rio de Janeiro to a father who was a wall painter and son of a slave, and a mother who was an Azorean Portuguese washerwoman. He attended public school, but was not a very good student, and learned Latin from Father Silveira Sarmento. Assis's first job was as a proofreader for the newspaper Correio