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 works—such as novels, novellas, plays and collections—although some short or nonfiction writing of literary significance may also be included.
Latest update: August 26, 2024
c. 1400
Amadís de Gaula
by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo, Portugal
Novel
1516
General Songbook
by Garcia Resende, Portugal
Poetry collection
1523
Farce of Inês Pereira
by Gil Vicente, Portugal
Play
1554
Maiden and Modest
by Bernardim Ribeiro, Portugal
Epic poem
1572
The Lusiads
by Luís de Camões, Portugal
Poem, originally Os Lusíadas
1846
Travels in My Homeland
by Almeida Garrett, Portugal
Novel
1875
The Crime of Father Amaro
by Eça de Queirós, Portugal
Novel
1878
Cousin Bazilio
by Eça de Queirós, Portugal
Novel
1882
The Brazilian Girl from Prazens
by Camilo Castelo Branco, Portugal
Novel
1887
The Book of Cesário Verde
by Cesário Verde, Portugal
Poetry collection
1888
The Maias
by Eça de Queirós, Portugal
Novel
1900
The Illustrious House of Ramires
by Eça de Queirós, Portugal
Novel
1920
Clepsydra
by Camilo Pessanha, Portugal
Poetry collection
1925
Poems of God and the Devil
by José Régio, Portugal
Poetry collection
1930
The Jungle
by Ferreira de Castro, Portugal
Story
1944
Poetry
by Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, Portugal
Poetry collection
1953
A Bee in the Rain
by Carlos de Oliveira, Portugal
Novel
1957
The Ironing Machine
by Almada Negreiros, Portugal
Novel
1968
The Dolphin
by José Cardoso Pires, Portugal
Novel
1977
The Prodigious Physician
by Jorge de Sena, Portugal
Novel
1982
Baltasar and Blimunda
Novel, originally
Memorial do Convento
The English title of José Saramago's most acclaimed novel, Baltasar and Blimunda, gives the impression it's a love story, about the love between the soldier who has lost a hand in battle and the girl who has been orphaned by.... Critique • Quotes • Buy
The Land at the End of the World
by António Lobo Antunes, Portugal
Novel
1983
Fado Alexandrino
by António Lobo Antunes, Portugal
Novel
1984
The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis
by José Saramago, Portugal
Novel, originally O Ano da Morte de Ricardo Reis
1986
The Stone Raft
by José Saramago, Portugal
Novel
1988
The Murmuring Coast
by Lídia Jorge, Portugal
Novel
1989
The History of the Siege of Lisbon
by José Saramago, Portugal
Novel
1990
Mensagem
by Fernando Pessoa, Portugal
Novel
1991
The Book of Disquiet
by Fernando Pessoa, Portugal
Novel, originally Livro Do Desassossego
1995
Blindness
Novel, originally
Ensaio sobre a cegueira
Blindness may be the most popular of José Saramago's novels, possibly because it is one of his easiest to get into. From the beginning the plot reads like a science fiction story—one of those tales in which a virus or.... Critique • Quotes • At the movies • Buy
2004
Seeing
by José Saramago, Portugal
Novel
2009
Cain
by José Saramago, Portugal
Novel
2018
Poetry
by António Botto, Portugal
Poetry collection
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