Fabiana Corrêa launches “Era uma vez uma guerra na Caatinga” on March 7 in Cordeiro, RJ, retelling the Battle of Canudos through the eyes of a Caatinga lizard.
What if one of Brazil’s bloodiest historical conflicts were narrated not by a soldier or a journalist, but by a lizard who witnessed it all? That is the bold premise of writer and educator Fabiana Corrêa in her new book, “Era uma vez uma guerra na Caatinga” (Once Upon a War in the Caatinga, Editora Outra Margem). The launch event takes place on March 7, at 10 a.m., at Café Mercado Mineiro, in Cordeiro, Rio de Janeiro state.
A lizard as the voice of history
The book reimagines the universe of “Os Sertões” (Rebellion in the Backlands), the 1902 masterpiece by Euclides da Cunha, through the perspective of the calango Sertanejo — a native lizard of the Caatinga biome. “To replace my persona as a storytelling teacher, I chose a representative of the fauna of the Bahian Caatinga, the Sertanejo lizard — the one who heard everything, saw everything, and will tell it all,” explains Corrêa.
The journey of Antônio Conselheiro — referred to in the book as “Peregrino” (Pilgrim) — and the founding of the settlement of Belo Monte are seen through this small creature’s gaze, weaving together education, literature, and ecology in a seamless narrative.
The Caatinga as a protagonist
One of the book’s most striking passages describes the Caatinga biome itself becoming an ally of the sertanejo people. “The dry branches and thorns wove impenetrable barriers against the soldiers, but opened a web of possible paths for the people of the land,” writes Corrêa. The landscape is no backdrop here — it is a living, breathing character.
A gateway to a Brazilian classic
Each chapter opens and closes with selected excerpts from “Os Sertões”, building a bridge between Corrêa’s contemporary voice and Euclides da Cunha’s dense, intricate prose. The author is careful to define the work’s scope: “This is not an adaptation of the original text, but a story that will lead readers to the original work in their own time.”
“At least, that is my wish: that this story becomes a lure for the reader’s desire to encounter the words written by Euclides da Cunha.” — Fabiana Corrêa, author
Illustrated by Arthur Abreu, the book invites new audiences into a foundational Brazilian classic while raising timely questions about territory, identity, and ecology.
About the author
Fabiana Corrêa holds a degree in Biological Sciences from UERJ and a postgraduate specialization in Environmental Education and Sustainable Development from FGV. Born in Bom Jardim and based in Cordeiro, Rio de Janeiro, she taught Biology and Sciences in private schools for over two decades. Since 2015, she has dedicated herself fully to literature and the arts, publishing works for children, young adults, and adult readers.
Event Details
Book Launch: “Era uma vez uma guerra na Caatinga”
Date: March 7
Time: 10 a.m.
Venue: Café Mercado Mineiro
Address: Rua Pref. Dr. Adyr Pinto Vahia de Abreu, 64, Cordeiro – RJ, Brazil
Purchase the book: https://www.editoraoutramargem.com.br/product-page/era-uma-vez-uma-guerra-na-caatinga-fabiana-corr%C3%AAa
Photo: Press release
