This publication by Jose Luis Peixoto takes us back to a period of great exodus of our country, a generation disenchanted with no way out but to leave their home, a curret theme by the day.
The story of the book is a fictional tracing of all the Portuguese who in the late 50's and 60's were forced to emigrate. Yes, required, since nobody at that time did so willingly. It is also the brilliant description of one of the most important chapters of our contemporary history and is approached by this author with a certain rawness and without any deference by a past that was not easy at all for that generation.
It is the country-prison they escape as the writer calls it, that tells the story of a Portuguese family without a surname, who flees to France in search of a better life. It is a fragmented narrative because it sets at in different times. The first, more sad that describes an impoverished country, where the only option that remained was to young to emigrate to escape the hunger, misery and the compulsery military life, towards the colonial war. In this part of the narrative, the writer describes the hash struggle for everyday survival in a small village in the countryside. The second part is lighter, even hopeful because it describes the period after April 25th. It is time the dream country, the return of emigrants, the social and cultural evolution of a nation that has not closed to the world, quite the contrary. As for the title, I leave this matter in the air, for good reason, find out by reading this beautiful literature tribute to thousands of Portuguese who had to leave their country in search of a dream. Happy reading!
