José Saramago - The Portuguese Nobel Prize for Literature

José Saramago, the only Portuguese writer that won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998, has died, aged 87 at 18 June 2010.

José Saramago was born in Azinhaga, Golegã in Portugal, on November 16, 1922, although the official record stating the 18th. His parents emigrated to Lisbon when he has about three years old. His whole life has elapsed in the portuguese capital. He made secondary education (Lyceum and technical) that could not continue by economic difficulties.

In his first job, he was mechanic, and later had several other professions, like designer, employee health and welfare, editor, translator, journalist. He published his first book, a romance ("Land of Sin") in 1947, after having been without publishing until 1966. He worked for twelve years in publishing, where she held a senior position and literary production. He served as literary critic in the magazine "Seara Nova".

In 1972 and 1973 was part of the wording of the newspaper "Diario de Lisboa" where he was political commentator and has also coordinated a few months, the cultural supplement of that afternoon. Belonged to the first Board of the Portuguese Association of Writers. Between April and November 1975 he was deputy director of the newspaper "Diário de Notícias". Since 1976 he lives solely on his literary work.

In 1980, he achieved notoriety with the book "Levantado do Chão', seen today as his first great novel. "Memorial do Convento 'confirms this success two years later.
In 1991 he published "O Evangelho Segundo Jesus Cristo", book censored by the government - which led Saramago into exile in Lanzarote, Canary Islands (Spain), where he lived until death. He was the first Portuguese-language author to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998.
Among his other books are the novels "The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis" (1984), 'The Stone Raft "(1986)," Blindness "(1995),' All the Names" (1997) and "The Double" (2002), the play "In Nomine Dei (1993) and two volumes of diaries collected in" Cadernos de Lanzarote "(1994-1997).
He leaves as the last published book "Cain", which hit newsstands last year

Distinguished Works by José Saramago:

In Portugal:
Critics Award of the Association of Portuguese "Night", 1979
Prize City of Lisbon "Levantado do Chão, 1980
Portuguese PEN Club Award "Memorial do Convento", 1982 "The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis", 1984
Literary Prize City of Lisbon "Memorial do Convento", 1982
Critics Prize (Portuguese Association of Critical) "The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis"
Dinis Prize "The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis, 1986
Grand Prix Romance Novel and the Portuguese Association of Writers "The Gospel According to Jesus Christ", 1992
Prize Consecration SPA (Portuguese Authors Society), 1995
Camões Prize, 1995

In Italy:
Grinzane Cavour Prize-"The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis, 1987
International Award Ennio Flaiano (Raised Ground), 1992

In England:
Prize of the Independent newspaper "The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis", 1993

Awards:
International Literary Prize Mondello (Palermo), 1992 (Joint Work).
Literary Prize BRANCATTI (Zafferana / Sicily), 1992 (for career achievement)
Life Literary Prize of the Portuguese Association of Writers (EPA), 1993
Prize Consecration SPA (Portuguese Authors Society), 1995
Nobel Prize for Literature, 1998

Doctorate:
Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Turin (Italy), 1991
Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Seville (Spain), 1991
Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Manchester (England), 1994

Condecorations:
Commander of the Military Order of Santiago de Espada (Portugal), 1985
Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by French (France), 1991