Ariano Suassuna

Ariano Suassuna (Portuguese pronunciation: [aɾiˈɐ̃nu suɐˈsũnɐ]; June 16, 1927 – July 23, 2014) was a Brazilian playwright and author. He is in the "Movimento Armorial". He founded the Student Theater at Federal University of Pernambuco. Four of his plays have been filmed, and he was considered one of Brazil's greatest living playwrights of his time. He was also an important regional writer, doing various novels set in the Northeast of Brazil. He received an honorary doctorate at a ceremony performed at a circus. He was the author of, among other works, the "Auto da Compadecida" and "A Pedra do Reino". He was a staunch defender of the culture of the Northeast, and his works dealt with the popular culture of the Northeast.

Biography

Ariano Vilar Suassuna was born in the northeastern city of Nossa Senhora das Neves (now João Pessoa capital of the state of Paraíba), on June 16, 1927, son of João Suassuna and Cassia Villar Suassuna. The following year, his father left the government of Paraíba and the family went to live in the wilderness, in Acauhan Farm ("Fazenda Acauã").