Dr. Sidney Chalhoub

Biography

Sidney Chalhoub is an Affiliate Professor in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at Harvard University, specializing in social history of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Brazil. He has taught at the University of Campinas, Brazil, for over thirty years before relocating to Harvard in July 2015. Chalhoub's extensive research focuses on themes such as working-class culture in Rio de Janeiro and the history of slavery's impact on society. His notable publications include 'Trabalho, lar e botequim' (1986), which explores cultural aspects of the working class through homicide trial records, and 'Visões da liberdade' (1990), which examines enslaved individuals' judicial petitions for freedom. His works critically analyze the policies surrounding public health during epidemics, as seen in 'Cidade febril' (1996), and the intersection of politics and literature in the works of Machado de Assis, notably in 'Machado de Assis, historiador' (2003). Chalhoub has supervised numerous dissertations and theses, and he has held visiting professor positions at the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago. He is also involved in various academic associations and initiatives focusing on Brazilian studies and social movements.

Research Interests