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Bilac Olavo Braz Martins dos Guimarães
(1865—1918)

Olavo Braz Martins dos Guimarães Bilac was a Brazilian poet of the Parnassian school. Considered one of the greatest poets ever to write in Portuguese, Bilac was a master at sculpting verses with carefully measured metre and rhythm while at the same time protecting them from appearing artificial. His poems look natural and inspired even though they were carefully crafted for balanced shape and rhyme. Bilac was born in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He studied medicine at a university but quit in the fourth year. He also tried a course of law, which he also quit, in its first year. Thereafter Bilac turned to journalism and literature, to which he had dedicated his energies from an early age.

A political activist — he supported mandatory military service and the abolition of slavery — Bilac was pursued by authorities during the government of Floriano Peixoto, the second president of Brazil. He spent a few months in jail, and also went into hiding at a friend's house in another state. Bilac is the patrone of the Brazilian Military Service.

Bilac was a founding member of the Academia Brasileira de Letras, the Brazilian Academy of Literature. Bilac was known for reading the most important literary works at the time and declaiming his own poems at social events. At the peak of his fame, he was one of the most popular authors of his country, having won the title of "Prince of Brazilian poets" in a contest launched by a magazine in 1907. He was also a formidable public speaker.

Bilac's most recurring poetic theme is undoubtedly stars. He was fascinated by the beauty of a starry sky, which is evident in a quite a number of his pieces. His hundreds of poems — most of which are in sonnet form — also speak about love, God, erotica, heroes, bandeirantes, Brazil, time, Greek mythology, and a plenitude of other themes. Bilac was also the author of the lyrics for the Brazilian Flag Anthem.

Brazil, 1967, Olavio Bilac

Brazil, 1988, Olavo Bilac