Four Portuguese novels have been recognized as standout books of the 21st century.
Portuguese literature is currently making waves in the global literary scene, with four works standing out for their profound exploration of themes such as colonial trauma, ageing, urban madness, and the search for identity.
One of these works is "The Return" by Dulce Maria Cardoso, published in 2011. Unlike other Portuguese novels, "The Return" does not appear to be connected to any specific geographical location within Portugal. The novel delves into the themes mentioned above, offering a unique perspective on the human condition.
Another notable work is "Jerusalem" by Goncalo M. Tavares, published in 2004. Set in an unnamed city with Kafkaesque echoes, the novel features six characters with tormented pasts. Hanna, one of the characters, is schizophrenic, while Hinnerk, a former soldier, is pursued by his crimes. The novel intersects the fates of these characters over a single oppressive night.
"Jerusalem" won the Jose Saramago Prize in 2005, adding to its acclaim. Saramago himself is a renowned Portuguese author, having won the 1998 Nobel Prize in Literature. His novel "The Cave", transposes Plato's allegory into contemporary Portugal, telling the story of Cipriano Algor, a potter forced to close his workshop due to industrial competition. "The Cave" is a meditation on the devouring nature of modernity, as developed by Saramago through his unique style of long, sinuous sentences and revolutionary punctuation.
The themes in "The Return" and "Jerusalem" are not unique to these works. António Lobo Antunes' "What can I do when everything's on fire?" (2001) also explores family fractures and the scars of the colonial war. Lobo Antunes, a psychiatrist and former soldier in Angola, delivers a vast fresco on traumatic memory and the legacy of African conflicts.
Leonardo Tonus, born in São Paulo, and Enrique Winter, born in Santiago de Chile and living in Cologne, are two other authors who tackle these themes in Portuguese fiction. Tonus explores migration and family history with a poetic search for colonial structures, while Winter is recognised for his writing and awarded the Anna-Seghers Prize.
These works not only bear witness to a literary creativity that reaches far beyond Portugal's borders, but also offer a profound exploration of the human condition, making them must-reads for literature enthusiasts.
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