The History of the Siege of Lisbon

A proofreader rewrites history by adding a key word, and in doing so rewrites his own life in Jose Saramago's award-winning novel. The History of the Siege of Lisbon is a meditation on the power of words, and the differences between historiography and historical fiction. The novel weaves together the reimagined history of the siege of Lisbon with the story of protagonist Raimundo Silva's unexpected love affair with the editor. This complex tale is a satisfying whole, a brilliant translation from the Portuguese by Giovanni Pontiero.