In 1875, novelist José de Alencar referred to the "great national monument" and its boorish craftsmen" when speaking of the work of the Brazilian writers who had been intent on building a properly Brazilian literature. Its principles were narrowly linked to the emergence of nationalism in Europe and the romantic experiments which followed. The existence of a national literary history grants legitimacy to the work accomplished by the first generations of writers and constitutes a model of Letras Patrias, characterized by their political commitment in favour of the Empire (1822-1889) and its ideal of civilization. Defining the Letras Patrias is a prerequisite to the study of the profile and social trajectories of the 200 writers which constitute the chosen sample for this thesis. The first chapters present a tableau and a diachronic perspective on the creation of a literary milieu in Brazil (Part I).Examining the literary règles de l'art established by these writers, I have studied how this community forged a common identity and how specific sociabilities emerged from within. The second focal point of this study has been the evolution of their careers for, as a specific literay field and market emerged, it became possible for these writers to rely financially on their works (Part II). Nevertheless, a malaise soon took hold as the artists vented their frustration at the difficulty of creating a distinctly national literature. Finally, Brazilian theater is a perfect epitome of the hardship endured by the "national monument" in the 1870s, before a new generation of writers radically reformed its bases.
