Description

‘Subtle, skillful, and clear. It’s so clear, in fact, that you can see a very long way down, into the heart of a flawed but valiant human being, into the sickness of a nation, into the depths of political evil. It’s the most impressive novel I’ve read for years, and one of the very few that feels truly necessary’ – Philip Pullman

In the sweltering summer of 1938, with Lisbon in the grip of Portugal’s dictatorship of Antonio Salazar, a journalist is coming to terms with the rise of fascism around him and its insidious impact on his work. Consumed by the passing of his wife and the child he never had, Pereira lives a quiet and lonely existence. One day, the young and charismatic Monteiro Rossi enters his life, changing everything. A man who once shied away from criticizing Portugal’s authoritarian regime finds himself unable to stay quiet any longer, resulting in his political awakening and a devastating act of rebellion.

Tabucchi’s celebrated masterpiece is an ode to courage and solidarity in the face of political oppression.

‘A stunningly good novel, and it goes on getting better in one’s head after one has stopped reading it – it works as an experience – something that has happened to one, which is of course the proof of great writing’ Diana Athill

Publisher Review

Mysterious, menacing, enthralling and mind-bending … a masterpiece of compression — Mohsin Hamid Pereira Maintains is small only in size. Its themes are great ones?courage, betrayal, fidelity, love, corruption; and its treatment of them is subtle, skillful, and clear. It’s so clear, in fact, that you can see a very long way down, into the heart of a flawed but valiant human being, into the sickness of a nation, into the depths of political evil. It’s the most impressive novel I’ve read for years, and one of the very few that feels truly necessary — Philip Pullman Gripping and unexpected * The Times * Brilliant … you’ll go on thinking about the characters for weeks * Guardian * A work in the high aesthetic mode, a historical novel cast in delicately evocative prose and filled with witty references to the great figures of modern European literature. In it Italians could examine their political consciences through an artful image of another country’s past. The pleasures to be had from Pereira Maintains are rich and varied, but best of all it’s very enjoyable * The New York Times * Tabucchi’s prose creates a deep, near-profound and sometimes heart-wrenching nostalgia and constantly evokes the pain of recognizing the speed of life’s passing which everyone knows but few have the strength to accept — Alan Cheuse * NPR * A stunningly good novel, and it goes on getting better in one’s head after one has stopped reading it – it works as an experience – something that has happened to one, which is of course the proof of great writing — Diana Athill A brilliant, profound book that also manages to be a thriller — Roddy Doyle