Please note, this event will be held in Portuguese.
We are delighted to welcome the much-loved Portuguese author, Dulce Maria Cardoso, on the 13th of February for a conversation with critic Tiago Bartolomeu Costa. Together, they will be talking about her life and work, particularly her novel The Return (translated by Margaret Jull Costa) and its impact on Lusophone literature.
About the author
Dulce Maria Cardoso was born in Trás-os-Montes, but spent her childhood in Angola, from where she returned in 1975.
Her novels have been translated into several languages and her short stories included in international anthologies, for example, Anjos por dentro, in anthology Best European Fiction 2012, da Dalkey Archive. The Return, English translation by Margaret Jull Costa was awarded with PEN Translation Prize in 2016.
About the moderator
Tiago Bartolomeu Costa is a critic, researcher, curator and cultural organizer. He is the author of Tiago Guedes: valse à six temps (Centre Pompidou-Metz, 2011) and O Cego que Atravessou Montanhas: Conversas com Luís Miguel Cintra (Orfeu Negro, 2016).
Who is the event for?
Anyone who wants to meet Dulce Maria Cardoso on an evening of conviviality, sharing, and inspiration.
About The Return
Luanda, 1975.
The Angolan War of Independence has been raging for at least a decade, but with the collapse of the Salazar dictatorship, defeat for the Portuguese is now in sight. Thousands of settlers are fleeing back to Portugal to escape the brutality of the Angolan rebels.
Rui is fifteen years old. He has lived in Luanda all his life and has never even visited the far-away homeland - although he has heard many stories. But now his family are finally accepting that they too must return, and Rui is filled with a mixture of excitement and dread at the prospect. But just as they are leaving for the airport, his father is taken away by the rebels, and the family must leave without him. Not knowing if the father is alive or dead - or if they will ever find out what has become of him, Rui, his mother and sister try to rebuild their lives in their new home. This turns out to be a five star hotel in a quiet, seaside suburb of Lisbon, where returnee families are crammed into luxurious rooms by the dozen. These palatial surroundings are a cruel contrast with the reality of returnee life. The hotel becomes a curious form of purgatory as the families wait to discover what will become of them - ever conscious of the fact that they are hardly welcome back in their homeland. Rui has his own personal struggle with his new life: growing up, dropping out of school, facing discrimination, and the ever-present worry over his mother's deteriorating health and his father's fate. And then one night Rui's father returns from the dead.
Translated from the Portuguese by Ángel Gurría-Quintana
Don't miss this special evening of sharing, inspiration and friendly conversation!
Register Your Free Ticket
This event is free to attend, but we ask that you register your free ticket so we know how many people to expect.
The Venue
Good Company Books is an independent English Bookstore in Lisbon. Born from our love of global literature and our Portuguese heritage, we are crafting a space for people of all backgrounds to gather and enjoy the best books, events, coffee, and wine. Find out more on our Instagram.
How To Find Us
By Metro: We're situated a 5-minute walk from the Campo Pequeno metro (Yellow line) and a 10-minute walk from the Alameda metro (Green & Red lines).
By Bus: There are many convenient bus options 2 blocks away from us on Avenida República, with the closest stop to our store being Campo Pequeno-Av. Republica.
By Bike: If you're using the Gira public bicycles, there is a docking station right across the street (#431 - Rua do Arco Cego / Av. Magalhães Lima).
By Car: There is a paid parking lot across the street, between Rua Arco do Cego and Rua Dona Filipa de Vilhena. Street parking is also available around the neighborhood.
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