This master of the word gave the world the sunny beautiful Portugal. For his talent, Jose Saramago was awarded the Nobel Prize and worldwide fame. Today, his works are read in almost all countries of the world, films are made on them in which the leading roles are played by leading Hollywood actors.
The depth of meaning, the accuracy of the figurative system, delightful allegories and the versatility of the art world - these are the main features of his novels, not to mention the amazingly lively characters and creative manner that combines the main trends of several literary trends.
Outstanding personality
By and large, it was thanks to Jose Saramago that the world started talking about the literature and culture of Portugal. In 1992, he founded the National Front for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in Lisbon, and in 1998 the author was awarded his highest award. The novels of this writer are usually attributed to magical realism, but in fact they turn out to be so multifaceted that they combine all the best that literature has given to the world today. But their main feature can be called, perhaps, the magnificent embodiment of the absolute idea of humanism, the installation of the preservation of humanity in any conditions and situations. This position was especially vividly expressed in the novel called Blindness, which today is considered one of the most famous and popular around the world.
The origin of the future writer
Could Jose Saramago, as a boy from a simple peasant family, imagine that one day he would become one of the leading representatives of the world literary community of his time? Probably no.
The childhood of the master of the word was rather difficult - constant moving, lack of funds, the early death of his older brother, undoubtedly left a definite imprint on the creative personality of the future author of the world bestseller. Despite this, Jose Saramago was a very capable student, possessing an inquiring mind and vivid imagination. Since parents could not afford to pay for a good school, at the age of 12 the boy was forced to start training in the technical field in order to be able to earn a living, as they say, with his own hands.
From the bottom
Upon completion of training, Jose Saramago, whose books the whole world reads today, worked as a mechanic in a car repair shop for two years, after which he chose the path of a translator for himself, from which he grew into a professional journalist. For some time, the future Nobel laureate worked as an assistant editor in the publication Diário de Notícias, however, due to political changes in 1975, he was forced to abandon his career and return to translation activities.
Soon, Jose Saramago, whose books became a real literary sensation, declared himself as the author of literary works.
Falls and ups
Despite the fact that this person always felt like a writer, his early creative experiments were unsuccessful. His true talent came to the world quite late. The most popular work of Saramago at the moment is probably the “Gospel of Jesus”, but in many respects this book owes its worldwide scandalous history.
It is easy to guess that this book presents an alternative view of biblical history, which adherents of strict religious beliefs could not like. The parable form of the narrative, the irony with which these or those views are highlighted, the very opposition of Jesus to the Old Testament Yahweh caused a rather great resonance and various reviews. Nevertheless, a year after the release of the novel “The Gospel of Jesus”, Saramago was awarded the highest award - the Nobel Prize.
General topic of interest
It should be noted that the work mentioned above is not one of a kind. Considering himself an atheist, the writer, nevertheless, devoted a lot of his works to religious topics or ideas close to it. For Jose Saramago, the “Gospel” was simply the most vivid expression of the declared idea of the triumph of human humanism over religious dogmas, but both earlier and later it was reflected in the works and caused a lively response from the readership of the whole world.
"Rising from the Ground"
Perhaps this is the first work of the writer, which received considerable publicity and won the love of millions. From the very first lines of the novel, the reader will discover the incredible beauty of Portugal, striking with a riot of colors and some almost magical charm. But at the same time, that melancholy, that bitterness and pain for his homeland, expressed by Jose Saramago in every line, amazes.
Such subtlety and accuracy with which the work was written, critics traditionally explain the origin of the writer from a peasant family. Even the name of this author was erroneously formed and etymologically goes back to the popular name of wild radish. Such a strong spiritual connection with the land, native to the writer, could not but be reflected in his works.
“Memories of the monastery”
About this work of Jose Saramago, the Vatican’s reviews were really tough. The clearly expressed anticlerical mood, reflected in this work, could not go unnoticed and caused a furor. The situation was also aggravated by the fact that the main character of the novel was a sorceress, who, of course, did not fit into the worldview of people with strict religious convictions.
Nevertheless, it is customary to compare this book with Umberto Eco’s novel “The Name of the Rose,” which has also become a worldwide bestseller.
"Blindness"
This work, perhaps, can be considered one of the most beloved readership. An original look at the apocalypse, an inimitable plot, a characteristic creative manner and an unshakable faith in the triumph of humanity made the novel "Blindness" world famous. Moreover, a magnificent film was shot based on his motives, the main roles in which went to the leading actors of our time.
"Double"
This work can rightly be called one of the darkest and most difficult to perceive in the work of Jose Saramago. “Double” is a book that makes the reader plunge as deeply as possible into their own inner world, realize the abyss that is inside each of us, think about issues of the universe and being. Perhaps it is about her that you can find such conflicting reviews. Enthusiastic praises sing to José Saramago's "Double" and at the same time speak sharply negatively about him. One thing is certain: after reading, no one remains indifferent.
A special creative manner, a unique view of the world, striking in its beauty and accuracy, are the main features of Jose Saramago as the leading author of modern Portugal and one of the most significant figures in world literature of our day. Being a native of the simplest low-income peasant family, he not only managed to achieve success and fame - he changed the world in some way, giving him a whole series of works, each of which has the right to be called a real masterpiece. This is the best-selling literature worldwide. These are books that have already become classics.