Studies of the work of Graciliano Ramos have approached numerous aspects of his oeuvre, and there can be no doubt that his books have stirred a lasting interest among North-American critics. However, despite the substantial volume of academic essays on this Alagoan author, no study covers the history of his critical reception in The United States - a situation the present article hopes to redress. A discussion of this topic raises defining historical moments, as well as ideological persuasions and cultural backgrounds that have influenced the way US critics select, read and write about literature from other regions.
Graciliano Ramos; North-American criticism; The United States; translation; the Brazilian novel; comparative literature