A previously unpublished novel by a literary master, Skylight tells the intertwined stories of the residents of a faded apartment building in 1940s Lisbon.
Silvestre and Mariana, a happily married elderly couple, take in a young nomad, Abel, and soon discover their many differences. Adriana loves Beethoven more than any man, but her budding sexuality brings new feelings to the surface. Carmen left Galicia to marry humble Emilio, but hates Lisbon and longs for her first love, Manolo. Lidia used to work the streets, but now she’s kept by Paulo, a wealthy man with a wandering eye.
These are just some of the characters in this early work, completed by Saramago in 1953 but never published until now. With his characteristic compassion, depth, and wit, Saramago shows us the quiet contentment of a happy family and the infectious poison of an unhappy one. We see his characters’ most intimate moments as well as the casual encounters particular to neighbors living in close proximity. Skylight is a portrait of ordinary people, painted by a master of the quotidian, a great observer of the immense beauty and profound hardships of the modern world.
About the Author
José Saramago is one of the most acclaimed writers in the world today. He is the author of numerous novels, including All the Names, Blindness, and The Cave. In 1998 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Book Details
- Title: Skylight
- Author: José Saramago
- Translator: Margaret Jull Costa
- Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Publication Date: December 2, 2014
- Language: English
- Hardcover: 320pp
Reviews
- A mosaic of unhappiness: Skylight – The Kashmir Monitor
- ‘Skylight,’ by José Saramago – San Francisco Chronicle
- ‘Skylight,’ by Jose Saramago – Toronto Star
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Skylight by José Saramago – love, life and loss in Lisbon – The Guardian
