The Avid Reader

Madness and reading practices in the life history of a Belgian bookseller in 19th century Porto Alegre

Abstract

Leopoldina Marcus, best-known as Madame Marcus, was a Belgian citizen who migrated to Brazil in the mid-19^th century. At a certain time in her life, she settled in the city of Porto Alegre, where she opened a small bookshop. From some traces of her life, Madame Marcus is discussed not as a bookseller, but as a reader. Drawing upon registers found in newspapers form her time and a brief chronicle about her life, this article is based upon a question – what could reading enable 19th century women in terms of imagination concerning their own lives and horizons of action? What could it offer in terms of exploration of existence or refusal of one’s own identity? Without providing definitive answers, my intention is to once again encourage reflection about the field of possibilities that was open to women when involved in activities as individual as the reading of novels.