Licia do Prada Valladares relates the story of the first favela, Morro da Providência (Providence Mountain), originally occupied in 1897 by veterans of the War of Canudos who were pressing the Ministry of War to fulfill its promise to support soldiers - The improvised housing settlement was called Morro da Favella (Favella Mountain), and was widely presented by the press of the time as a pest to be eradicated with residents were criminals.

Valladeres goes on to show how successive representations of the favela since then have contributed and consolidated a prevailing myth of the favela as different to the 'asphalt', and as the 'urban territory of the poor' - A invenção da favela: do mito de origem à favela is available via fgv editora on this link, or via Buscapé here.

licia valladares' book 'la favela d'un siecle a l'autre' (the favela from one century to the next) examines the evolution and history of these communities and is also available on google books on this link (french).