Journey to Portugal
Journey to Portugal (Viagem a Portugal) is a non-fiction book by Portuguese author José Saramago about the history and culture of Portugal. It was first published in 1981 by Círculo de Leitores and Editorial Caminho, with an English translation released in 2001.
The book blends history, culture, and Saramago’s own reflections, mixing elements of a travelogue, a novel, and a guidebook.
Reception: Publishers Weekly called it a monumental, hybrid work that combines an intimate portrait of a nation with aspects of a novel, a travel log, and a guidebook. The New York Times critic Michael Pye described it as solipsistic and suggested it works better as a guide to Saramago than to Portugal. It was also reviewed in World Literature Today, The Washington Post, New Statesman, and The Spectator.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 14:37 (CET).