"Baltasar and Blimunda" by Jose Saramago is a historical novel set in early 18th century Portugal during the reign of King John V. The story revolves around the King's vow to build a convent for the Dominican Order after the birth of his daughter Maria Barbara, who briefly becomes the heir to the throne. The novel delves into the hardships faced by the workers during the construction of the Convent of Mafra, showcasing the social injustices and religious cynicism prevalent during that era. The narrative follows the unconventional love story between Baltasar, a former soldier, and Blimunda, a woman with a unique ability, as they become entangled in the quest of a priest to build a flying machine, set against the backdrop of the auto de fe and religious absolutism.
Saramago's writing style in "Baltasar and Blimunda" is characterized by long, meandering sentences that provide a sense of unreality and strangeness to the narrative. The novel features elements of magical realism, offering a unique perspective on historical events and societal norms. Through his intricate storytelling, Saramago explores themes of love, religion, society, and dreams, weaving together a tapestry of characters and events that captivate readers with its wisdom, humor, and poetic prose.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book discusses themes of the Inquisition, violence, and the struggles of the working class, which may be sensitive for some readers.
Has Romance?
The romance between Baltasar and Blimunda is central to the narrative, portrayed deeply against the backdrop of their social and historical context.
From The Publisher:
In early eighteenth-century Lisbon, Baltasar, a soldier who has lost his left hand in battle, falls in love with Blimunda, a young girl with visionary powers. From the day that he follows her home from the auto-da-fe where women are burned at the stake, the two are bound body and soul by love of an unassailable strength. A third party shares their supper that evening: Padre Bartolomeu Lourenco, whose fantasy is to invent a flying machine. As the Crown and the Church clash, they purse his impossible, not to mention heretical, dream of flight.
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About the Author:
José Saramago is one of the most important international writers of the last hundred years. Born in Portugal in 1922, he was in his sixties when he came to prominence as a writer with the publication of Baltasar and Blimunda. A huge body of work followed, translated into more than forty languages, and in 1998 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Saramago died in June 2010.
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