Victor Heringer was a Brazilian novelist, poet, translator and columnist known for his profoundly evocative and innovative works. He is best known for his novels Glória (2012) and The Love of Singular Men (2016), the former of which won the Jabuti Prize in 2013. His posthumously published anthology, Vida Desinteressante (2021), was shortlisted for the 2022 Jabuti Prize.
Born in Rio de Janeiro on 27 March 1988, Heringer grew up in Nova Friburgo, in southeast Brazil. He studied Literature at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, where he wrote his master's thesis on irony in the works of Enrique Vila-Matas. His early career included positions at the Instituto Moreira Salles and the Fundação Casa de Rui Barbosa. A committed polymath, he explored various artistic forms, including drawing, filmmaking and sound installations.
Heringer's literary journey began with his poetry collection Automatógrafo (2011), published by 7Letras. This was followed by his debut novel, Glória (2012), which received critical acclaim for exploring desire and identity. "Writing," he once remarked, "is migration," a sentiment reflected in his themes of displacement and transformation.
His 2016 novel, The Love of Singular Men, set in a fictional Rio de Janeiro neighbourhood, tells a poignant story of love interrupted by tragedy. The novel was a finalist for several prestigious awards, including the São Paulo Prize for Literature, the Rio Prize and the Oceanos Prize. Reflecting on its creation, Heringer noted the influence of childhood visits to Rio's North Zone, describing the vibrant, if fractured, spirit.
In addition to his novels, Heringer published O Escritor Victor Heringer (2015), a conceptual book that combines photography and text. His translations included Loung Ung's First They Killed My Father (2017), and he contributed weekly columns to literary magazines such as Pessoa. Heringer's wit and curiosity extended to digital spaces; he explored new forms of storytelling, incorporating hyperlinks and multimedia into his work.
In 2017, Forbes Brazil included him in its 'Under 30' list, recognising his innovative contributions to literature. Tragically, Heringer passed away on 7 March 2018, three weeks before his thirtieth birthday.
Following his death, Companhia das Letras has reissued his complete works, including an anthology of his poetry and a collection of essays and crônicas.
Photo credit: Renato Parada
