Skylight
Skylight by José Saramago is a previously unpublished novel that presents the intertwined stories of residents in a faded apartment building in 1940s Lisbon. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2014, this first edition spans 299 pages and is written in English. The narrative explores the lives of various characters, including a happily married elderly couple, a young nomad, and a woman grappling with her feelings for Beethoven and her own burgeoning sexuality.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of human experiences as Saramago delves into themes of love, longing, and the complexities of relationships. The characters, such as Silvestre, Mariana, and Carmen, navigate their personal struggles and connections within the close confines of their community. This work showcases Saramago’s characteristic compassion and depth, offering a portrait of ordinary lives marked by both beauty and hardship. Skylight invites readers to reflect on the intimate moments and casual encounters that define the human experience.
Official synopsis Publisher
A previously unpublished novel by a literary master,Skylight tells the intertwined stories of the residents of a faded apartment building in 1940s Lisbon.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.
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