Who were Lamartine and Coleridge, Two Romantic Poets Born On This Day? | Art of Saudade

A former monarchist who embraced the idea of democracy, the French poet Alphonse de Lamartine dedicated most of his life to politics. Born on this day in 1790, one year after the French revolution, this renowned French author’s destiny seemed to be marked by the thirst for freedom. However, it didn’t take him long to realize that freedom could not be found in politics. “O! … Continue reading Who were Lamartine and Coleridge, Two Romantic Poets Born On This Day? | Art of Saudade

Who Is Annie Ernaux And Why Was She Awarded The Nobel Prize In Literature? | Art of Saudade

France is the country with the most Nobel Prize winners in literature: 15 Nobel laureates, all of them men. This year, the Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded for the first time to a French female author, Annie Ernaux.  Annie was born in the middle of World War II, in a small town in the Normandy region. She portrayed the ordinary life of her working-class … Continue reading Who Is Annie Ernaux And Why Was She Awarded The Nobel Prize In Literature? | Art of Saudade

Poetry as an Act of Freedom | Jim Morrison in Paris | Art of Saudade

The king is dead, long live the king!  Ben Franklin said that some people die at age 25 and aren’t buried until they are 75. Jim, on the contrary, was buried at age 27 yet his legend lives on. You may know Jim Morrison as the lead vocalist of The Doors, a historical figure, or a rock’n’roll icon. I know him as a poet. “Riders … Continue reading Poetry as an Act of Freedom | Jim Morrison in Paris | Art of Saudade

Lisbon Seen Through The Eyes Of Fernando Pessoa | Art of Saudade

Can a writer leave his mark on an entire city? An unconditional lover of the awe-inspiring Portuguese capital, Fernando Pessoa’s presence still guides us through the narrow streets of Chiado, the shady squares of Bairro Alto, and the most notable monuments, such as the Belém Tower. If you trust Pessoa’s bohemian spirit, you absolutely need to read Lisbon – What the Tourist Should See before … Continue reading Lisbon Seen Through The Eyes Of Fernando Pessoa | Art of Saudade

Best Of – Fernando Pessoa’s Thoughts on Life, Dreams, and Love | Art of Saudade

During those hours when the landscape forms a halo around Life, and dream is simply a matter of dreaming oneself, I created, O my love, in the silence of my disquiet, this strange book like a series of arches opening up at the end of some abandoned avenue. Fernando Pessoa, The Book of Disquiet To write is to live. To dream is to find yourself. … Continue reading Best Of – Fernando Pessoa’s Thoughts on Life, Dreams, and Love | Art of Saudade

The Power of Silence | Confucius and Rumi Quotes That Still Resonate Today | Art of Saudade

Silence is golden. Imagine how many conflicts could have been avoided if we remained silent. Now think about the good decision you could have made if you chose to take your time and consider it in silence. Silence gives answers. – Rumi All the words sharper than knives could simply be replaced with… silence. Let silence take you to the core of life. – Rumi … Continue reading The Power of Silence | Confucius and Rumi Quotes That Still Resonate Today | Art of Saudade

When Dystopia Makes You Cherish Your Life | Blindness by José Saramago | Art of Saudade

They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them. Psalm 115:5-8  Dystopia is one … Continue reading When Dystopia Makes You Cherish Your Life | Blindness by José Saramago | Art of Saudade

More than a hero… a writer! | The Travels of Ernesto Che Guevara | Art of Saudade

“I now know, by an almost fatalistic conformity with the facts, that my destiny is to travel…” Che Guevara “This young adventurer, endowed with a thirst for knowledge and a great capacity to love, shows us how reality, if well interpreted, can move a man to the point of changing his way of thinking.”, says Che’s daughter Aleida Guevara March in the preface to The … Continue reading More than a hero… a writer! | The Travels of Ernesto Che Guevara | Art of Saudade

Inside one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world | Livraria Lello | Art of Saudade

Can a bookstore inspire you? Legend has it that a bookstore in Portugal inspired J.K. Rowling to write Harry Potter. How true is it? Let’s find out! The Lello Bookstore in Porto, Portugal Founded in 1869, Lello is one of the oldest bookstores in Portugal and it still keeps its neo-gothic elements. The staircase, the shelves, and the vivid colors attract thousands of tourists to … Continue reading Inside one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world | Livraria Lello | Art of Saudade

Did Albert Camus Really Predict The Pandemic? | Art of Saudade

Lockdown, transmission, and quarantine are some of the words that have been part of our daily vocabulary for the past two years. These same words can be found in Camus’ philosophical novel The Plague. Published only two years after the Second World War, many literary critics believe that the plague symbolizes the battle against Nazism. However, digging into the book, it is easy to conclude … Continue reading Did Albert Camus Really Predict The Pandemic? | Art of Saudade