The History of the Siege of Lisbon

Historical Context and Significance

The novel «The History of the Siege of Lisbon» by José Saramago is a unique blend of historical fiction and philosophical reflection on the nature of truth and reality. The book explores the theme of rewriting history through the lens of a fictional event—the Siege of Lisbon—where the protagonist, proofreader Raimundo Silva, decides to alter a historical text by adding the word «not», drastically changing the narrative's meaning. This act becomes a catalyst for reflections on how history is formed and interpreted, highlighting the subjectivity and fluidity of historical narratives. The book's cultural impact lies in its ability to encourage readers to critically consider historical facts and their interpretations, as well as its contribution to the development of postmodern literature, where the lines between fiction and reality become blurred. Saramago, a Nobel Prize laureate in literature, uses this novel to explore the complex relationships between past and present, truth and fiction, making it significant in the context of world literature.