1945: Re-prepares his short stories book, changes the title to Sagarana, a neologism created by him, and hands it to Editora Universal (Publisher) for publication. In December, the writer visits Minas Gerais inland, including Cordisburgo.
1957: With the success of the books published in the previous year supported by the public and reviews, he consolidates his prestige as one of the major names in the Brazilian literature of the 20th century. Thinks about applying for the Brazilian Academy of Letters (ABL).
1946: In February, he is appointed chief of staff to the minister of Foreign Affairs, João Neves da Fontoura, position that he will hold until 1948.
1958: In January, he is defeated by Afonso Arinos de Melo Franco in the elections for ABL, for the chair vacated by José Lins do Rego.
In April, Sagarana, his first book is published by Editora Universal. The reception by the public and critics is highly favorable. In the same year, the 2nd edition comes out. In July, participates in the Peace Conference in Paris as the Brazilian Delegation secretary. 1947: In July, travels through Pantanal Mato-Grossense and visits Nhecolandia region. In Firme farm, where he remained for a week, he met the cattleman Mariano, a character made immortal in the short story-report Com o vaqueiro Mariano published by Correio da Manhã on 26 October in the same year. The text, also re-published in 1952 by Edições Hipocampo of Niterói with limited edition, was included in the posthumous book Estas Estórias, with the title Entremeio: com o vaqueiro Mariano. 1948: On August 20, in Mexico, marries Aracy, by proxy. Next, the couple goes to Paris, where he works at the Brazilian Embassy, remaining there until 1951. 1949: Lives and works in Paris. Travels around Europe in the company of his wife Aracy and his daughter Vilma. Visits and starts showing his preference for Italy. Thoroughly reads The Divine Comedy, by Dante. 1950: Is promoted to the position of embassy counselor. After a trip to Greece, he carefully reads, Iliad and Odyssey, by Homer. 1951: Returns to Rio and resumes the chief of staff to the minister João Neves. 3rd edition of Sagarana is published by José Olympio, his publisher until the end of his life. 1952: In May, goes on a trip around Minas Gerais inland in order to, according to his own words, “check out the mooing of the oxen and the copiousness of the dew on molasses grass bushes, among aboios (typical melody sung by cattlemen), stars and mild adventures”. On this trip, which he called A Boiada on the notebook he organized, he met Manuel Nardi, Manuelzão from Uma estória de amor, Bindóia, a “poem line maker”, and the cattleman and cook Zito, about whom he writes in one of the prefaces of Tutaméia. In June, he participates, together with the entrepreneur Assis Chateaubriand and president Getúlio Vargas, in a vaquejada (tiedown roping) in Bahia, where more than 600 cattlemen from various northeastern states got together. 1953 and 1954: Continues publishing texts, short stories and poems in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and São Paulo press. 1956: In January, publishes Corpo de Baile and, in May, Grande Sertão: Veredas, both by José Olympio Publisher. Publishes the 4th edition of Sagarana. The linguistic-stylistic revolution contained in the new works provokes heated discussion among his supporters and critics.
In May, he is promoted to 1st class minister, corresponding to ambassador’s position, the highest rank in the diplomatic career. José Olympio Publisher publishes the 2nd edition of Grande Sertão: Veredas and the 5th and definitive edition of Sagarana. He translates the book Last of Curlews, written by Fred Bodsworth, published by Reader’s Digest. In November, he suffers a heart attack. 1959: Begins corresponding with Edoardo Bizzari, his great Italian translator. 1960: Begins collaborating with Senhor magazine. José Olympio releases the 2nd edition of Corpo de Baile. 1961: Publishes Meu Tio o Iauaretê in Senhor magazine, later it is included in Estas Estórias, and several “anagrammatic” poems in O Globo, collected in Ave, Palavra. 1962: In January, he is appointed chief of Boundary Demarcation Service in Itamaraty. Releases Primeiras Estórias, by José Olympio. 1963: In August, he is elected for the Brazilian Academy of Letters, for the chair vacated by his friend João Neves da Fontoura. He will only take office in 1967. 1964: In the book Os sete pecados capitais, of Civilização Brasileira Publisher, publishes Os chapéus transeuntes, about pride, re-published in Estas Estórias. At the end of September, participates in the Latin American Cultural Week, in Berlin. Grande Sertão: Veredas, translated by Curt Meyer-Clason, is published in Germany. In Italy, Corpo di Ballo is published with translation, notes and glossary by Edoardo Bizzarri. 1965: In January, he participates in the International Congress of Latin American Writers, in Genoa, and is elected vice-president of the Society of Latin American Writers. On that occasion he gives an interview to Günter Lorenz, which will be published in Brazil in 1973. Between May and December, publishes 17 short stories in Pulso, a physicians’ newspaper, 14 of them are republished in Tutaméia and 3 in Ave, Palavra. Grande Sertão: Veredas is published in France, with translation by J.J. Villard. In November, in Brasília, during the 1st Brazilian Film Week, the film A hora e a vez de Augusto Matraga, is exhibited and it wins 5 prizes, including best film. 1966: On 10 March, the film comes out in São Paulo. In June, participates in the 34th Pen Club International Congress, in New York.
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