Fernando Pessoa

Who is Fernando Pessoa?

Fernando Pessoa was a Portuguese poet, writer, and translator, considered one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century. Born in Lisbon in 1888, he spent part of his childhood in Durban, South Africa, where he received an English education that made him fluent in English. Pessoa is renowned for his invention of 'heteronyms' — distinct fictional authors with their own biographies, styles, and philosophies, the most famous being Alberto Caeiro, Ricardo Reis, and Álvaro de Campos. Much of his work went unpublished during his lifetime; he published relatively little, notably the collection 'Mensagem' (1934). After his death in 1935, a trunk containing thousands of manuscript pages was discovered, including the fragmentary prose masterpiece 'Livro do Desassossego' (The Book of Disquiet), assembled and published posthumously. His work has since gained worldwide acclaim and profoundly influenced modern literature.

Sources: Fernando Pessoa, 'Mensagem' (1934) · Fernando Pessoa, 'Livro do Desassossego' (posthumous, first published 1982)