- The First Global Village: How Portugal Changed the World by Martin Page. If you read one book before traveling to Portugal, read this one. This narrative is the perfect introduction to Portugal and all of its culture, history and natural beauty. Written by a British journalist, it unveils fascinating yet true episodes from the country's history, spotlights historical figures and traditions which make Portugal and its people so alluring to travelers.
- Journey to Portugal: In Pursuit of Portugal's History and Culture by Jose Saramago. Saramago brings Portugal to life as only a writer of his brilliance can. He scours his beloved country with the eyes and ears of an observer fascinated by the ancient myths and history of his people. Always meticulously attentive to those elements of ancient Portugal that persist today, he examines the country in its current period of rapid transition and growth.
- Baltasar and Blimunda by Jose Saramago. A blend of fact and fiction, Saramago creates a surrealistic reflection on life in 18th century Portugal. The two central characters, Baltasar, a soldier just home from the war, and Blimunda, a clairvoyant who can actually see inside people, are enlisted by a renegade priest to help him construct a flying machine. The machine does fly, but with disastrous consequences for all involved.
- The Lusíads by Luis de Camões. 1998 is the quincentenary of Vasca da Gama's voyage via southern Africa to India, the voyage celebrated in this new translation of one of the greatest poems of the Renaissance. Portugal's supreme poet Camoes was the first major European artist to cross the equator. The freshness of that original encounter with Africa and India is the very essence of Camões's vision.
- Cork Boat: A True Story of the Unlikeliest Boat Ever Built by John Pollack. At the age of 34, J. Pollack quit a prestigious speechwriting job on Capitol Hill to pursue an idea he had harbored since the age of six: to build a boat out of wine corks and take it on an epic journey. Written with unusual grace and disarming humor, Cork Boat is a buoyant tale of camaraderie, determination, and the power of imagination.
- Portugal - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs & etiquette by Sandy Guedes de Queiroz. This guide provides essential information on attitudes, beliefs and behavior in Portugal, ensuring that you arrive at your destination aware of basic manners, common courtesies, and sensitive issues. Contents include customs, values, and traditions; historical, religious, and political background; life at home; leisure, social, and cultural life; do's, don'ts, and taboos.
- Food of Portugal by Jean Anderson. Portugal, as much as Portuguese cooking, is the subject of this book, which is enlivened by a veteran food writer. The narrative is buoyed by historical notes, reminiscences and tips on the best inns and restaurants in Portugal. The recipes depend on simple ingredients, often in new and unusual combinations.
|
