Milton Hatoum is elected to the Brazilian Academy of Letters

Favorite writer, Manauara author Milton Hatoum was elected immortal of the Brazilian Academy of Letters on Thursday (14), succeeding journalist Cícero Sandroni. The author of acclaimed novels such as ‘Relato de um Certo Oriente’ (1989), ‘Two Brothers’ (2000), and ‘Cinzas do Norte’ (2005) now occupies chair number 6. This was Hatoum’s first time applying to the ABL. He was persuaded to vie for the position after conversations over the past decade with his friend and now fellow immortal Ana Maria Machado. Hatoum received 33 votes against 1 for Antônio Campos, closing a season of renewals at the Academy that has been intense since the beginning of the year. Journalist Míriam Leitão, who took the former seat of Cacá Diegues, was inaugurated last Friday, while poet Paulo Henriques Britto and novelist Ana Maria Gonçalves are still awaiting their respective ceremonies to don the green gown.