Fiction

José Saramago

As Portugal's only Nobel Laureate, even outside of the country, Saramago is widely considered one of the most important international writers of the last hundred years. Quite a few of his works are set in Lisbon, so as a starter I suggest The History of the Siege of Lisbon, where the protagonist, a proofreader, changes one key word to a history of Portugal and thus rewrites not only the past, but also his own life. This book is only about 300 pages which is a good intro for those new to his unconventional writing style.

Your bestie recommends: The Jose Saramago Foundation is in a building with one of the most fabulous facades in all of Lisbon. The first floor is dedicated to his literary and humanitarian works, and on another you can find a store with his books translated into many languages. His ashes are buried under the lone olive tree out front.

The Book Of Disquiet, by Fernando Pessoa

A true icon of Lisbon, you will see his image all over the city. He is to Lisbon what Kafka is to Prague or Joyce is to Dublin. Prolific and unusual, he often wrote as other personalities (heteronyms) - hence there’s a little joke that says Portugal's four greatest poets are all Fernando Pessoa.

Published posthumously, The Book Of Disquiet is probably my fave - a collection of short, fragmented paragraphs that make up an "autobiography" of one of his alternate personalities, Bernardo Soares. It’s grim, strange, and brilliant, though I’m not sure he’s everyones taste.

Your bestie recommends: To really understand him, I suggest going to Casa Fernando Pessoa, which has an exceptional attention to detail. Pessoa was a regular at the cafe A Brasileira in Chiado and did much of his writing there. He has a statue in his honour out front and his glasses are on display at the entrance.

Poems, by Amalia Rodrigues

If fado is the soul of Lisboa, then Amália’s poetry is the way to immerse yourself in it. It makes sense: The emotion, the wordplay, the reflection and of course, the saudade that the Queen Of Fado can evoke with her voice, is all there, just in written form.

The beauty of this book is its bilingual format. The left page in Portuguese, the right side in English. The cadence makes more sense in its original form, so it’s great to have the translation. For this reason I have also recommended it here for language learning.

Your bestie recommends: The Amália Rodrigues Foundation is in her actual house - as she wished in her will - and has many of her personal belongings, awards and memories. A true slice of Lisbon heritage, proceeds go to various charity and social causes she chose prior to her passing.

Two Nights In Lisbon, by Chris Pavone

If you're over all these somewhat dense recs, I can offer you this good romp. Set in Lisbon (duh) this thriller/suspense starts with Ariel waking up to find her newlywed husband missing. All the authorities keep insisting there’s nothing to worry about. It’s the kind of book one usually buys at the airport, but who doesn’t enjoy a novel full of secrets and red herrings?

Your bestie recommends: There is also a movie of the book.

Non-Fiction

Queen Of The Sea, by Barry Hatton

Honestly, if you only read one book on Lisbon, please, let it be this one! Hatton takes you through the 2000 year history of this city with delightful, easily digestible detail. The 1755 earthquake, the Moorish rule, the dictatorship and every nook and cranny in between, it’s honestly riveting. So much so that I’ve read it twice - once before moving and again once I was established and knew the exact areas he was talking about. Visiting loved ones are always amazed how much I know when wandering the city together, and it mostly down to this book.

Conquerors, by Roger Crowley

You don’t need to be a salty seadog to enjoy this book about one of Europe's greatest maritime empires. Thoroughly researched, this explanation of how Portugal once came to global supremacy via the ocean vividly brings to life the personalities involved such as Alfonso de Albuquerque and Vasco da Gama (spoiler alert - they were all a little bit bonkers and all a whole lot of awful).

Secret Lisbon by Vitor Manual Adriao

If there’s one thing that Lisbon has an abundance of, it’s detail. Divided into neighborhoods, this little not-quite-a-guidebook shows you the history and meaning behind all the gems you would otherwise likely miss. It’s how I knew Henry Feilding was buried in a cemetery near me and learnt how the area of Rato got it’s name.

Bonus, it’s small enough to fit in your handbag.

Lisboeta, by Nuno Mendes

Each region of Portugal has its own cuisine, so it’s wonderful to have a book focused on the country’s capital. More than just a beautiful cookbook, it’s more like a love letter to the city. Along side the recipes are nostalgic tales from Nuno’s childhood tales and stunning photographs of Lisboa. Do I cook anything from it? No. Not when I live among cooks and chefs who execute these dishes far better than I ever will. But do I flick through the gorgeous pages, like a blog in paper form? Absolutely.