Eça de Queirós: literary market and social class

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between writing and social class in the lives of different characters from three books by José Maria Eça de Queirós: Artur Corvelo, from A Capital! (começos duma carreira); Carlos da Maia e João da Ega, from Os Maias: episódios da vida romântica; and Gonçalo Mendes Ramires, from A ilustre casa de Ramires. For a better understanding, it is necessary to explore the concept of "literary field" (Bourdieu, 1996) of Portugal during the second half of the 19th century and consider the constrictions endured by the novice writer at this time.