Raised from the Ground
Though Saramago wrote his first novel in 1947 at the age of 24, critics viewing his long career in retrospect have suggested that Raised from the Ground, first published in 1980, was the novel in which Saramago found the distinctive voice that would lead him to literary prominence. Coincidentally—or not—it is also said to be one of his most personal works. A multigenerational epic set in the vast farmlands of southern Portugal, this story portrays the hardscrabble lives of the Mau Tempo family, defined by never-ending toil set to the harsh rhythms of the agricultural calendar. The bleakness is apparently permanent; world wars and an attempted assassination of dictator Salazar cannot dispel it. Only with the coming of communism—and with it the promise of equality and an eight-hour workday—might change be possible. Saramagos poetic and political fans of the English-speaking world will unite in appreciation for this long-awaited translation.   st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } --Brendan Driscoll