The title of Francisca Botelho’s novel, The Height of Animals is definitely a misnomer. She was an artist, not an actress or a writer. Her novel was inspired by her real-life experience growing up in the Catholic Church in Brazil. Although Brazil is now more secularized, the culture her novels draw from reflects her true birthplace, Rio de Janeiro. She was raised in a very conservative environment and that served to shape her personality and self-confidence.
When she went to college in Rio, she joined the Brazilian dance team called Tui-Tui. Because she was tall and could move easily, she was often chosen to play the lead dancer. Her height and dancing ability allowed her to advance quickly through the ranks and once she was done with that, she decided to pursue her degree at the Sorbonne, one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Her book, The Height of Animals, was about the relationship between a young girl and her pet, a petite monkey who saved her from attackers during the height of the Civil War. This story told by Francisca Botelho, was inspired by her real-life experiences in the Church.
She wrote the novel in Portuguese, which was then done by only those educated in the language. Botelho is highly regarded for her beautiful portrayal of the lives of women during the era of Brazil’s liberation. Many Americans know little about Brazil during this period and her book’s publication helped make American readers familiar with Brazilian cultural icons. Her own poetry has also become popular in America, being translated into many languages and receiving multiple honors.