Ruy Castro e a obsessão do biógrafo: “Me jogo neuroticamente”

Ruy Castro, the celebrated Brazilian journalist, writer, and biographer, recounted his early life and passion for writing in a recent episode of The Business of Life, hosted by Nilton Bonder. Born in 1948 in Caratinga, Minas Gerais, Castro's journey to becoming a renowned writer began in his childhood, where he was exposed to the works of famous Brazilian writer Nelson Rodrigues through his mother's reading of his column A vida como ela é in the newspaper Última Hora.

At the age of four, Castro learned to read, gaining his first book at the age of five and never letting go of a book in his hand again. He did not attend regular basic education and entered school for the first time at the age of ten, already knowing that he would become a journalist. His passion for journalism was inherited from his grandfather and father, who were avid newspaper readers. Castro states, "I had no chance to be anything else," highlighting the inevitability of his chosen path.

His career began in 1967 at the age of 19 when he joined The Correio da Manhã as a reporter and editor. Over the years, he worked for various prestigious Brazilian media outlets, including Jornal do Brasil, Veja, O Estado de S. Paulo, Playboy, and Folha de S.Paulo, where he has been a columnist since 2007. In his 40s, Castro dedicated himself to writing books, drawing from his experiences at different media houses a meticulous scrutiny, clear text, humor, and most importantly, respect for the reader.

Castro emphasizes the three essential commitments in writing: clarity, objectivity, and truth. During the interview with Bonder, he elaborated on the necessary obsession for a biographer's work, stating, "When I convince myself that I want, I throw myself in — and I throw myself neurotically." He recalls dreaming about Nelson Rodrigues and Garrincha and admits that dreaming about Carmen was even better.

His final advice to aspiring journalists is to have the passion for information and the drive to uncover the truth, acknowledging that it may take years to uncover a detail that the reader might not even notice.