Pessoa

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For many readers, Fernando Pessoa's The Book of Disquiet serves as a way of life. This unclassifiable work is a masterpiece of one of the twentieth century's most enigmatic writers. Richard Zenith's biography of Pessoa allows us to appreciate this extraordinary figure. Eighty-five years after his untimely death in Lisbon, where he left over 25,000 manuscript sheets, Pessoa (1888-1935) is celebrated as a great modern poet. Zenith places Pessoa's life within the context of European history, exploring the depths of his imagination and literary genius. Much of Pessoa's allure stemmed from his use of various names, which allowed him to conceal his identity and write in diverse styles through imagined personalities. Zenith delves into the backgrounds of these 'heteronyms,' revealing them as projections or transformations of Pessoa himself. His monumental work underscores the relevance of Pessoa's words in addressing the disconnection of modern life. Additionally, it serves as a vivid portrayal of Lisbon, the city that Pessoa reimagined and where his multiple selves roamed. This biography was a finalist for the 2022 Pulitzer Prize in Biography and was longlisted for the 2021 Plutarch Award. It also garnered recognition as one of the top books of 2021 by various publications, including the New York Times and Kirkus Reviews.