Diccionario da Linguagem das Flores / Dictionary of the Language of Flowers
Novel , 2020
Dom Quixote
Pages: 376
The new novel by António Lobo Antunes, Dictionary of the Language of Flowers, features Júlio Fogaça as its main character, a prominent member of the PCP in the 1930s. Over twenty-four chapters, in a disruptive writing style characteristic of Lobo Antunes, the reader is led to question the true identity of this protagonist. Themes such as time, memory, and identity, dear to the author, are also present in this novel. However, the true cornerstone of the narrative is the discovery of an old book, which is the origin of the novel's title, and which causes a surprising graphic oscillation between contemporary Portuguese and Portuguese from the late 19th century.
"Reading the novels of António Lobo Antunes, given their excellence, must be an act of surrender, of self-transcendence, of keeping all senses alert in order to grasp the beauty of the language, the subtle irony, the graceful metaphor..." Graça Sampaio, Jornal da Leiria
"This book aims to offer readers a sample of the versatility and talent of the man who is today, unquestionably, the greatest living Portuguese writer." Jose Mendez, Observador
"Centripetal, António Lobo Antunes’ creative energy operates in a closed circuit, obsessively recreating the same narrative patterns." José Mário Silva, Expresso