210 | Morte do escritor português José Saramago completa 15 anos

·11 min·1 clip

Why was José Saramago considered one of the most important Portuguese-language writers?

The episode begins by establishing José Saramago as one of the most important Portuguese-language writers. It details his birth in 1922 in the village of Azinhaga, approximately 100 kilometers from Lisbon. Saramago came from a humble family, and his surname originated from a plant used as food during financial difficulties. His family moved to Lisbon in 1924, where his father worked as a policeman. Saramago worked as a mechanical sawmiller and administrative officer before starting at a publishing house in 1950. He published his first novel, 'The Land of Sin,' in 1947, then had a nearly 20-year gap before further publications. Saramago also worked as a literary critic and translator. The episode outlines three stages in his literary career: an initial focus on revisiting Portuguese history with works like 'Levantado do Chão'; a second stage with more universal themes, exemplified by 'Blindness' and 'The Cave'; and a third, more ironic and satirical phase, including 'The Intermittents of Death.' Professor Eliana Ingprick from Unisinos University discusses Saramago's unique writing style, characterized by unconventional punctuation, lack of direct speech markers, and extremely long paragraphs. She notes his aim was for his works to engage the public, not just sit on shelves. Saramago married Hilda Reis in 1944, had a daughter named Violante, and later moved to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, where he married Spanish journalist Pilar del Río. He received the Camões Prize in 1995 and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1998, becoming the first Portuguese-language writer to do so. His last book, 'O Caderno 2,' was published in 2009, and he died on June 18, 2010, from multiple organ failure. The episode ends with Saramago's reflection on memory, quoting his words about writing keeping his grandparents alive.

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