The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis

Interesting Facts

• The book is part of a trilogy that also includes «Baltasar and Blimunda» and «The Gospel According to Jesus Christ».
• The main character, Ricardo Reis, is one of the heteronyms of Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa, giving the work a metaphorical and philosophical nature.
• The novel is set in Lisbon in 1936, amidst political changes and the rise of fascism in Europe.
• Saramago employs a unique writing style that includes long sentences and minimal punctuation, creating a distinctive atmosphere and rhythm.
• The novel explores themes of identity, death, and immortality, as well as the relationship between reality and fiction.
• Elements of magical realism are present in the book, characteristic of Saramago's work.
• Ricardo Reis returns to Portugal after 16 years in Brazil, and his journey becomes a symbolic search for the meaning of life.
• Saramago masterfully intertwines historical events with fictional ones, creating a multilayered narrative.