“Aqui se Abre um la rto Theatro ao Engenho do Secretário Principiante”: Writing Letters acc ording Francisc o José Freire (Portugal - Century.XVII)

Abstract

From antiquity to the nineteenth century, the epistolary practice was
responsible for long-distance communication, however, although unique and necessary,
letter writing was not spontaneous, as respected standards dictating rules
and making room for creativity through a literature guide the writing of letters. In
this context, we present a brief study of a compendium written by Francisco José
Freire, declared by scholars as the first letters have theoretical eighteenth-century
epistolary Portuguese. In 1745 he published “O Secretário Portuguez Compendiosamente
Instruído no modo de Escrever Cartas” – reprinted numerous times. Thus,
through a study by the prospects of Cultural and Social History, we analyzed the
compendium from the perspective of Written Culture.