The Tragic History of the Sea : Shipwreck poetics in Portuguese literature of the 16th and 17th century

Abstract

Shipwreck reports, written by members of overseas expeditions or chroniclers, have a specific position in Portuguese literature of the 16th and 17th century. Many of them were included in the 18th century collection The Tragic History of the Sea (História Trágico-Marítima) by Bernardo Gomes de Brito.

They are not mere historic documents, the authors used irony, elegiac tone and added short stories to the main narration. These elements may be the clue to understand literary value of these reports.

Keywords

• The Tragic History of the Sea
• História Trágico-Marítima
• shipwreck reports
• overseas expeditions
• Portuguese literature
• Manuel Rangel
• Manuel de Mesquita Perestrelo
• The Wreck of the great Galleon São João
• Bernardo Gomes de Brito