Érico Veríssimo, a Brazilian Cultural Ambassador in the United States

Abstract

This article examines the goals that the U.S. government had in inviting the writer Érico Veríssimo for successive trips from 1941 on, when it got in touch with editors, reviewers and the audience. It also analyses the effects of developing long-lasting connections with the United States on his career; explores the factors that contributed to Veríssimo's success in the United States; and examines the difficulties he faced when negotiating with North American publishers; finally, details Veríssimo's role as a public speaker in the United States promoting greater public understanding of Brazil while, most importantly from the U.S. government perspective, building support within the United States for the Good Neighbor Policy and U.S. military installations inside Brazil.