From 1957 he was working on O Cruzeiro (English: The Cruise) and in 1964 published his second novel, The Colonel and the Werewolf, a bestseller with more than fifty five editions to date (2012).

Considered one of the great novels of Brazilian literature, it was subsequently published in Portugal and translated into English, Spanish, French and German.

The book also won the 1965 Prêmio Jabuti (English Tortoise Prize), the Luísa Coelho Neto and Claudio de Sousa award.

The Academy is composed of 40 members, known as "immortals", chosen from among the citizens of Brazil, who have published recognized works or books of literary value.

In 1975, he was elected the first President of Funarte, a foundation linked to the Ministry of Culture created to foster and fund the arts.