Journey to Portugal explained

Journey to Portugal (Viagem a Portugal in Portuguese) is a non-fiction book on Portugal by Nobel Prize-winning author José Saramago. It was first published in 1981 by Círculo de Leitores e Editorial Caminho.^[1]

Critical assessment

An English language translation was published in 2001. A review in Publishers Weekly praised the book, calling it a "monumental work, a literary hybrid that intermingles an intimate portrait of a nation with aspects of a novel, travel log and guide book."^[2] Writing in The New York Times, Michael Pye was critical of the book, saying "As books of travel go, this one goes wrong from the start; it is downright solipsistic", and concluded that the book was better as a guide to Saramago rather than as a guide to Portugal.^[3] The book was also reviewed in World Literature Today,^[4] The Washington Post,^[5] New Statesman,^[6] and The Spectator.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Book: Rendeiro, Margarida. The Literary Institution in Portugal Since the Thirties: An Analysis Under Special Consideration of the Publishing Market. . 2010 . 187, 192, 217, 227 . 9783034300506.
2. News: Journey to Portugal: In Pursuit of Portugal's History and Culture . . March 1, 2001 . July 22, 2018 .
3. News: Pye . Michael . A Walk in the Country: Two decades ago, José Saramago traveled Portugal in search of the past. . . April 1, 2001 . July 22, 2018.
4. George . Monteiro . Review . World Literature Today . 76 . 1 . Winter 2002 . 234 . 10.2307/40157243 . 40157243.
5. News: Guy . Davenport . Traveler in an Antique Land . The Washington Post . 25 March 2001 . 22 July 2018 .
6. News: Harry . Sheen . I saw the world end . New Statesman . 11 December 2000 . 22 July 2018.
7. News: Avoiding the company of kings . Raymond . Carr . The Spectator . 42 . 10 February 2001 . 22 July 2018 .