'The Book of Disquiet: The Complete Edition' by Fernando Pessoa is a collection of fragmented thoughts and musings of fictional Portugese bookkeeper Bernardo Soares, one of Pessoa's heteronyms. The book is a diary-like account of Soares' existential reflections on life, literature, poetry, sensibility, and metaphysics, with no plot or story arc. Pessoa's poetic prose is described as beautiful and profound, with virtually every sentence being a gem. The book is best experienced by dipping into it over a long period of time, rather than reading it cover to cover, as it offers insights into the depths of human emotions and existential ponderings.
The writing style of 'The Book of Disquiet' is characterized by its rich expressiveness, introspective nature, and melancholic tone. Pessoa weaves together observation and introspection, creating a deeply existential and existentialist work that challenges readers to contemplate the imperfections of life and the struggle of living authentically. The book is a blend of diary, fiction, autobiography, philosophy, and poetry in prose, offering a unique reading experience that invites readers to reflect on the complexities of human emotions and the futility of longing for the impossible.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of depression, existential despair, alienation, and references to existential nihilism.
From The Publisher:
The "Book of Disquietude" is the "factless autobiography" of "Bernardo Soares, " one of the 72 literary personae with which Portugal's greatest poet Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935) created the theater of himself. Conceived in 1916, Soares is, Pessoa declared, "amutilation" of his own personality.
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1 comment(s)
This was beautifully written. A gorgeous collection of writings that reflect on a man's view of the world, himself, and his place in it.
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The Book of Disquiet: The Complete Edition?
About the Author:
Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935) was born in Lisbon and brought up in Durban, South Africa. He returned to Lisbon in 1905. A prolific writer, ascribing his work to a variety of personas or heteronyms, Pessoa published little in his lifetime and supported himself by working as a commercial translator. Although acknowledged as an intellectual and a poet, his literary genius went largely unrecognised until after his death.
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