António de Almeida

Born in Rio de Janeiro on November 17, 1831, this Brazilian novelist, physician, journalist, and literary critic is remembered above all for Memoirs of a Police Sergeant (Memórias de um Sargento de Milícias). First published in installments before appearing as a book, the novel stood out for its playful tone and vivid picture of urban life, and later became one of the most beloved works in Brazilian literature.

Alongside his literary work, he studied medicine and worked in journalism, writing for newspapers and taking part in the cultural life of imperial Brazil. That mix of practical training and close contact with the press helped shape a style that felt observant, direct, and full of movement.

His life was short: he died in 1861, still in his twenties. Even so, his reputation lasted far beyond his lifetime, largely because his best-known novel captured ordinary people and city life in a way that felt fresh and modern.