Book: Dom Pedro II and Hebrew Culture

Context

In 2025, the bicentenary of the birth of Dom Pedro II — Brazil’s second and last emperor — FecomercioSP supported the publication of Dom Pedro II e a Cultura Hebraica, edited by the historian and academic Leandro Garcia Rodrigues.

The book draws on extensive research carried out in Brazil, Israel and France, including previously unpublished documents, travel diaries, correspondence, photographs and other materials.

The challenge

Publishing the book involved:

• International research across multiple historical archives (undertaken by Professor Leandro Garcia Rodrigues)
• Organising previously unpublished documentation (undertaken by Professor Leandro Garcia Rodrigues)
• Launch events in Brazil and Portugal
• Building an institutional narrative aligned with the bicentenary
• Positioning FecomercioSP as a strategic cultural sponsor

My role

My work focused on structuring the project’s communications, providing editorial support to the author and organising publicity in Brazil and abroad.

Initial editorial support

• Meetings with Professor Leandro Garcia Rodrigues to understand the book’s aims, its content and the significance of the unpublished documents.
• Support in shaping the project’s institutional narrative.
• Development of presentations to support meetings and discussions with publishers.

While the intellectual work of the book was entirely the author’s, my involvement was in structuring the communications around the project.

Discussions with publishers

• Conversations with publishers in Brazil and Portugal.
• Assessment of publishing options.
• Support in the process that led to the selection of Editora Francisco Alves, the author’s own choice.

Organising and publicising the launches

I handled communications for the launch events, which were organised and publicised in:

• São Paulo
• Rio de Janeiro
• Petrópolis, the emperor’s former summer residence
• Lisbon

In Lisbon I led the institutional engagement, communications with journalists and organisation of the event held at Livraria Travessa, a bookshop in the city.

The event featured:

• A discussion with the author
• A book signing
• The attendance of Brazil’s Ambassador to Portugal, Raimundo Corrêa

Also produced:

• Institutional copy
• Press release
• Direct contact with journalists
• Support to FecomercioSP’s press office

Outcome

The book was launched with a structured programme of events in Brazil and Portugal, as part of the commemorations marking Dom Pedro II’s bicentenary. The project:

• Strengthened FecomercioSP’s positioning as a sponsor of culturally and historically significant initiatives.
• Connected Brazil and Portugal through cultural diplomacy.
• Contributed to the preservation and dissemination of previously unpublished documents from Brazilian history.
• Reinforced the Federation’s international presence, particularly in Lisbon.