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BIOGRAPHY
Jose Saramago, recipient of the 1998 Nobel Prize for Literature, was born in Azinhaga, Portugal to Jose de Sousa and Maria da Piedade. His father was a farmer until the family moved to Lisbon when he became a police officer. Saramago grew up in poverty and dropped out of high school for financial reasons. After attending technical school he worked as a mechanic. During the 1950s he worked as a translator and as production manager of the publishing company, Estudios Cor.
Saramago published his first book of poetry, OS POEMAS POSIVEIS, when he was 44 years old. His first novel, MANUAL DE PINTURA E CALIGRAFIA (MANUAL OF PAINTING AND CALLIGRAPHY), was published eleven years later. The novel MEMORIAL DO CONVENTO is considered to be one of his most important works. In addition to poetry and novels, he has also published several plays and essays. His works have been translated into 20 languages.
Saramago currently lives with his wife on the island of Lanzarote in the Canaries.
CHRONOLOGY
1922 He was born in Azinhaga, Portugal. (November 16)
1924 He moved with his family to Lisbon.; His brother, Francisco, died.
1944 He married Ilda Reis.
1947 His daughter, Violante, was born.
1955 He began his work as a translator.
1966 OS POEMAS POSIVEIS
1967 He began working as a literary critic.
1969 He joined the Communist Party.
1970 PROVAVELMENTE ALEGRIA; He and Ilda Reis divorced.
1971 DESTE MUNDO EDO OUTRO; He left publishing and began working for the newspaper DIARIO DE LISBOA.
1973 A BAGAGEM DO VIAJANTE
1974 AS OPINIOES QUE O DL TEVE
1975 O ANO DE; He became deputy director of the newspaper DIARIO DE NOTICIAS.
1977 MANUAL DE PINTURA E CALIGRAFIA
1978 OBJECTO QUASE
1979 POETICA DOS CINCO SENTIDOS. O OUVIDO, A NOITE
1980 LEVANTADO DO CHAO, QUE FAREI COM ESTE LIVRO
1981 VIAGEM A PORTUGAL
1982 MEMORIAL DO CONVENTO
1984 O ANO DO MORTE DE RICARDO REIS
1986 A JAGANDA DE PEDRA; He began a relationship with Portuguese writer Isabel da Nobrega.
1988 He married Pilar del Rio.
1989 HISTORIA DO CERCO DE LISBOA
1991 O EVANGELHO SEGUNDO JESUS CRISTO; He moved with his wife to the island of Lanzarote in the Canaries.
1993 IN NOMINE DEI
1995 ENSAIO SOBREA A CEGUEIRA
1997 TODOS OS NOMES
1998 EL AMOR POSIBLE, CUADERNOS DE LANZAROTE; His former wife, Ilda Reis, died.; He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.
1999 THE TALE OF THE UNKNOWN ISLAND
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