Maria Pereira Branco is a DPhil candidate researching the works of writers Natália Correia and Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen. Through a comparative analysis, her thesis will examine the literary corpora of these female authors and the mechanisms used to write about freedom under the censorship of Estado Novo (1933-1974). Alongside the literary impact of Andresen and Correia, this study will focus on the significance of these authors' defiant stances against social norms and their impact on the social liberation of women in Portugal; shedding light on the influence they had in the revolution that established Portugal's democracy. Framed in the political context of Portuguese society under the Estado Novo and developed through a feminist lens, this thesis will contribute to the recognition of women writers in Portugal and their crucial role in Portuguese society, politics, and cultural memory.

Prior to commencing her doctoral studies, Maria completed an MSt in Modern Languages (Portuguese) at the University of Oxford, the Diploma in Translation (DipTrans) in the language pair English-Portuguese and a BA in English Literature at the University of Westminster.

Maria’s research interests include Lusophone literature, women’s writing, gender and sexuality, and memory studies.