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Baltasar and Blimunda

— Saramago's breakthrough novel in English, full of contrasts and landscapes but lacking his later spark.”

• José Saramago
• Harvill Press (2001 edition)
• 

This was José Saramago’s breakthrough novel in the English language. His narrating personality is less obvious here but, even as he describes the events of three centuries ago, he still can’t resist the occasional modern reference.

There’s also an interesting, slightly bitter tone. This is a story that crosses the spectrum of 18th century Portugal, opening with the royal family and descending from palace to the street where we find our protagonists Baltasar and Blimunda. That initial sweep sets the pattern of the novel, with Father Bartolomeo Lourenço passing between both camps.

The priest has designed a flying machine that, in taking off, threatens to leave his faith behind as well as the ground. The two young lovers assisting him are also Saramago’s vehicle for showing us the hardships and poverty of ordinary lives. Thus the author wastes no opportunity to contrast the lot of such folk with that of the self-absorbed, near frivolous royals. Only in the queen and princess do we detect a note of sadness, for the freedom of their lives is severely limited by protocol, arranged marriage and the ugly male expectation of childbirth.

I felt that something lacked in Baltasar and Blimunda. We eagerly await the flight of Father Lourenço’s contraption for half the novel, the anticipation of which drives the story. However, while in the other half we’re supposed to all but forget about the magnificent machine while we witness instead a town’s struggle to build a ridiculous, excessive royal convent. Even so, Saramago’s capacity for critical observation is almost compensation enough.