The 33 Greatest Works of Portuguese Literature
This selection of literature from Portugal is based on the continuing research carried out for The Greatest Literature of All Time list and is additionally informed by the views of local readers, writers, critics and scholars.
This list is not about all writing in the Portuguese language. Rather it is for writing by authors associated with the country of Portugal and its preceding states or provinces.
Within this Portuguese context, literary works of all types, genres, cultures and periods are considered.
This list focuses on major creative—mainly fictional—works, although some shorter or nonfiction writing of literary significance may also be considered.
Latest update: August 26, 2024
c. 1400
Amadís de Gaula
Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo, Portugal
Novel
1516
General Songbook
Garcia Resende, Portugal
Poetry collection
1523
Farce of Inês Pereira
Gil Vicente, Portugal
Play
1554
Maiden and Modest
Bernardim Ribeiro, Portugal
Epic poem
1572
The Lusiads
Luís de Camões, Portugal
Epic poem
1846
Travels in My Homeland
Almeida Garrett, Portugal
Novel
1875
The Crime of Father Amaro
Eça de Queirós, Portugal
Novel
1878
Cousin Bazilio
Eça de Queirós, Portugal
Novel
1882
The Brazilian Girl from Prazens
Camilo Castelo Branco, Portugal
Novel
1887
The Book of Cesário Verde
Cesário Verde, Portugal
Poetry collection
1888
The Maias
Eça de Queirós, Portugal
Novel
1900
The Illustrious House of Ramires
Eça de Queirós, Portugal
Novel
1920
Clepsydra
Camilo Pessanha, Portugal
Poetry collection
1925
Poems of God and the Devil
José Régio, Portugal
Poetry collection
1930
The Jungle
Ferreira de Castro, Portugal
story
1944
Poetry
Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, Portugal
Poetry collection
1953
A Bee in the Rain
Carlos de Oliveira, Portugal
Novel
1957
The Ironing Machine
Almada Negreiros, Portugal
Novel
1968
The Dolphin
José Cardoso Pires, Portugal
Novel
1977
The Prodigious Physician
Jorge de Sena, Portugal
Novel
The Land at the End of the World
António Lobo Antunes, Portugal
Novel
1983
Fado Alexandrino
António Lobo Antunes, Portugal
Novel
1984
The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis
José Saramago, Portugal
Novel
1986
The Stone Raft
José Saramago, Portugal
Novel
1988
The Murmuring Coast
Lídia Jorge, Portugal
Novel
1989
The History of the Siege of Lisbon
José Saramago, Portugal
Novel
1990
Mensagem
Fernando Pessoa, Portugal
Novel
1991
The Book of Disquiet
Fernando Pessoa, Portugal
Novel
2004
Seeing
José Saramago, Portugal
Novel
2009
Cain
José Saramago, Portugal
Novel
2018
Poetry
António Botto, Portugal
Poetry collection
