Nunes, Benedito, 1929-2011

Benedito Nunes (November 21, 1929 - February 27, 2011) was a Brazilian philosopher and literary critic. He was born Benedito José Viana da Costa Nunes in Belém, a major city in the north of Brazil, where he was later a professor at the Federal University of Pará. He has also lectured at other universities in the south of Brazil, France and the United States. In 1987, he was awarded the Prêmio Jabuti, regarded as the most prestigious literary prize in Brazil. He was awarded again with the same prize in 2010, for the literary critique A Clave do Poético. He was one of the most respected authorities in contemporary Brazilian culture, and a specialist in the literary work of Brazilian modernists such as Clarice Lispector. Benedito Nunes died in his hometown Belém on February 27, 2011.