1982
Baltasar and Blimunda
José Saramago · 1922–2010 · Portugal
Originally Memorial do convento (Portuguese) · translated by Giovanni Pontiero
Why it matters
In Inquisition-era Portugal, a one-handed soldier and a clairvoyant woman help a priest build a flying machine powered by human wills. Saramago's breakthrough: history, love, and heresy fused into magical fable.
At a glance
magical realismhistorical fictionromance
Difficulty 7/10medium pace343 pagesSaramago's signature run-on sentences and unmarked dialogue require constant vigilance.
Where to go next
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