Lobo Antunes/Saramago

[Burns, Erik]

Saramago is almost all about politics (communist), nicely wrapped up in lyrical prose and usually driven by powerful images/plotlines. 
Lobo Antunes is more of a visionary, more abstruse and way less political (and what there is of it is way to the right of Saramago, which isn't hard to achieve).
Most Portuguese hate or love Saramago - there's no middle ground. Lobo Antunes is a bit like Portugal's Gaddis - much spoke of, but mostly unread. (Aside from his weird but usually entertaining columns in weekly newsmag.) 
I'd warrant Lobo Antunes hard done by with the Nobel going to Saramago ... Especially since it's fairly clear that only one Portuguese is going to get it every century, if that.
Etb
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