Browsing a flea market in the Northeast of Brazil, you may come across a couple of stands with what appear to be simple pamphlets, displayed across strings of twine and attached by wooden clothespegs. At first glance, they could be drawings or postcards, but a closer look will reveal one of the most traditional and longstanding forms of literature in Brazilian history: literatura de cordel.
Named after the strings (cordeis) they are arranged upon, cordel literature consists of short poems or folk novels, usually no more than ten verses and eight pages long, printed on simple paper. Usually, the cover of a cordel book contains an intricate woodcutting print to illustrate the story within.
Once popular all around Brazil, cordel literature began disappearing in the late 20th century. Now, these pamphlets are reduced to idiosyncratic relics of a time past. Cordel booklets are no longer bought for entertainment or literate value, rather for ornaments or curious mementos.
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