The Splendor Of Portugal

In this brutal dissection of guilt, victimhood, self-hatred, betrayal, and atrocities both political and domestic, Antunes proves once more that he is the foremost stylist of his generation, a fearless investigator of the worst excesses of the human animal.

The Splendor of Portugal's four narrators are members of a once well-to-do family whose plantation was lost in the Angolan War of Independence; the matriarch of this unhappiest of clans and her three adult children speak in a nightmarish, remorseless gush to give us the details of their grotesque family life. Like a character out of Faulkner's decayed south, the mother clings to the hope that her children will come back, save her from destitution, and restore the family's imagined former glory. The children, for their part, haven't seen each other in years, and in their isolation are tormented by feverish memories of Angola. The vitriol and self-hatred of the characters know no bounds, for they are at once victims and culprits, guilty of atrocities committed in the name of colonialism as well as the cruel humiliations and betrayals of their own kin. Antunes again proves that he is the foremost stylist of his generation, a fearless investigator into the worst excesses of the human animal.

"A Comparative History of Literatures in the Iberian Peninsula" is the second comparative history of a new subseries with a regional focus, published by the Coordinating Committee of the International Comparative Literature Association. As its predecessor for East-Central Europe, this two-volume history distances itself from traditional histories built around periods and movements, and explores, from a comparative viewpoint, a space considered to be a powerful symbol of inter-literary relations. Both the geographical pertinence and its symbolic condition are obviously discussed, when not even contested.Written by an international team of researchers who are specialists in the field, this history is the first attempt at applying a comparative approach to the plurilingual and multicultural literatures in the Iberian Peninsula. The aim of comprehensiveness is abandoned in favor of a diverse and extensive array of key issues for a comparative agenda."A Comparative History of Literatures in the Iberian Peninsula" undermines the primacy claimed for national and linguistic boundaries, and provides a geo-cultural account of literary inter-systems which cannot otherwise be explained.

Openly facing the wide expanse of ocean, Portugal continues its quest beyond its own borders. It is a country welcoming its guests, who find themselves seduced by its charm. The beauty of this country, steeped in its own traditions, shines through a succession of invasions and conquests that make up its history, affording the country its authenticity and grace. Portugal runs on down to the Algarve. This magnificent coastline always captivates tourists but it is the picturesque charm of the interior that will without doubt seduce the curious explorer in search of authenticity.

Portugal reveals its true face through a process of discovery. In each of its features, a river flows or a mountain rises up to reveal a special, unique image for each of its richly intense regions, thus creating a land of enduring memories, a genuine record of its development especially during the Age of Discovery when Portuguese art was at its peak.

CultureShock! Portugal is every reader’s guide to living, working and adapting to life in this beautiful, charming country. Packed full of useful information, this book will answer all your questions and provide you with much, much more. Find out how to obtain a work visa, how to enrol your children in the schooling system, where to live, and what to bring from home. As well as providing the practical information essential for anyone moving to a foreign land, this book guides you through the picturesque countryside, from vineyards to almond groves. Visit old-fashioned villages where bar owners know their patrons and grocers know their customers. Discover how the work environment ticks and what is important to the Portuguese people. For anyone wanting to truly understand and experience what it is like to live in Portugal, CultureShock! Portugal is a must read.

The imperial diaspora -- The Lusophone African diaspora -- Oriental imaginings and travel at the turn of the twentieth century -- Into the wilderness : the race for Africa and the promise of Brazil -- The Casa dos Estudantes do Império and mensagem -- A Lusotropicalist tourist and soldiers, East Indians, and Cape Verdeans on the move -- War in Africa and the global economy : leaving home and returning -- Epilogue : the Portuguese-speaking diaspora and "Lusofonia

Reprint of the original, first published in 1876.