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The great Italian migration to Santa Catarina at the end of the 19th century and contemporary displacements motivated by work and the search for belonging are the backdrop of the novel "A Dupla Ausência" (The Double Absence), by writer Magda Medeiros, which will be launched on August 6th, at 6 pm, at the Badesc Cultural Foundation, in Florianópolis.
With 202 pages, the book published by Editora Patuá intertwines memory, displacement, family relationships, and silences that span generations. Magda explains that the fiction arises from the encounter between research, imagination, and experiences that permeate her family history. “I am the granddaughter of an Italian who came to Brazil as a child with his family, fleeing the difficult conditions in Italy at that time. I had already considered creating something with this setting, but this idea became stronger at the beginning of 2024, on a ship voyage leaving the port of Rio de Janeiro towards Italy,” she states.
The book introduces Teresa, who grew up in the shadow of her mother's silence, until, already elderly and ill, her mother decides to reveal fragments of the family history: the journey from Italy to Brazil, the emigrants' first years, and everything that remained untold. In parallel, Teresa also experienced her own departure, repeating movements that span generations. "Besides migration and memory, the book addresses family relationships, generational silences, and femininity," the author emphasizes.
“The Double Absence” is Magda Medeiros' second novel. Her first, “Water Iris,” published in 2023 by Editora Litteralux, received an honorable mention at the International Latino Book Awards in 2024. The author is also featured in three anthologies: “Oceanic Words,” “Reading on Rainy Days,” and “Winged Anthology.”
Originally from Gravatal/SC and a resident of Florianópolis for 40 years, Magda built her career in the healthcare field. A graduate in Dentistry from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), she worked for decades in the municipal public health system as a dentist and preceptor for students and residents. Writing, however, has always been present in her life since adolescence, in short stories, poems, and diaries. During the pandemic, she decided to delve deeper into this path and began investing in writing courses, transforming the habit into a continuous literary practice.
For the author, launching the book at the Badesc Cultural Foundation has special significance. "I was familiar with the mansion from other book launches and art exhibitions, and besides thinking it's a great place because of its support for culture in the city, I also thought that this space, which holds stories and memories, would be related to the themes of my book," she adds.
The Badesc Cultural Foundation is located at Rua Visconde de Ouro Preto, 216, in the center of Florianópolis.
About the author
Magda Medeiros is originally from Gravatal/SC, a dental surgeon from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), specializing in Restorative Dentistry and Family Health (UFSC). She worked as a preceptor in undergraduate Dentistry courses (UFSC) and in the Family Health Residency Program at the Municipal Health Department of Florianópolis (PMF/SC). She is a retired public servant after many years dedicated to Dentistry at the Florianópolis City Hall. Writing has always been one of her great passions, but it remained in the background until 2020, when the pandemic turned everything upside down and, from the outside, the courage to unleash her words emerged. She has participated in anthologies and in 2023 published her debut novel, "Íris d'água". "A Dupla Ausência" is her second novel and explores migrations, femininity, memory, and family relationships. In her writing, she investigates lightness to create meaning where before there was only weight. Learn more on the website. magdamedeiros.com.br and on Instagram at @magdamedeiros_.
Start: 06/08/2026 18:00
End: 06/08/2026 20:00
Values: free admission.
