Fernando Pessoa: A Critical Introduction

A Critical Introduction provides a new didactic and dynamic way of reading the great twentieth-century poet Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935). It presents a holistic vision of Pessoa's complex poet, promoting his literary geniality to better understand his orthonymic-heteronymic poetry. The book discusses the genesis of Pessoa's heteronyms and orthonyms, the unity in all of his literary work, and the effects of translating Omar Khayyám's Rubáiyát on the poet. It contains eleven texts written by Pessoa in English, a substantive dual language bibliography, and is highly illustrated with facsimiles of the poet's own written material.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 22 August 2021
Publisher: Sussex Academic Press

A Critical Introduction offers a fresh and dynamic approach to reading the renowned twentieth-century poet Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935). The primary objective is to present a comprehensive portrayal of this intricate writer, highlighting his literary brilliance to enhance our understanding of his orthonymic-heteronymic poetry. A guiding principle is Pessoa's own maxim, "Be as plural as the universe." Through his meticulous guidance, Jerónimo Pizarro provides an intimate and scholarly perspective, allowing readers to delve into the workings of Pessoa's mind and life. The discussion revolves around the challenges an editor encounters when editing posthumously. A central question revolves around the genesis of Pessoa's heteronyms and orthonyms. A critical lens reveals the underlying unity present in all of Pessoa's literary work. Interpretations of his poems, the depth of The Book of Disquiet, and his isms of Paulism, Caeirism, Intersectionism, and Cessationism are explored and analyzed. The debate extends to Pessoa's astrological predictions, his birth year, and its impact on Portuguese national history. A dedicated chapter examines the influence of translating Omar Khayyám's Rubáiyát on the poet. The work comprises eleven texts written by Pessoa in English, including an autobiographical note from 1935, a substantial dual-language bibliography, and numerous illustrations featuring facsimiles of the poet's original written material.

A Critical Introduction is an indispensable resource for all scholars and students interested in delving into Pessoa's literary output and the intricacies of his life. While designed to appeal to enthusiasts of cultural studies, particularly those with an interest in arts and aesthetics, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, the work also incorporates new critical material that will engage scholars and students of contemporary literature.

Weight: 394g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789761450