“A plaque bearing the name Vitorino Nemésio” That’s how our journey begins. This unassuming plaque is more than just a name on a building. It marks the Lisbon residence of one of Portugal’s literary giants. This modest plaque commemorates Vitorino Nemésio’s life a life deeply intertwined with the city’s vibrant cultural tapestry.
Vitorino Nemésio was born in 1901 on the Azorean island of Terceira. He was a man of many talents. He was a poet a novelist a chronicler an academic and an intellectual. His most famous work is the novel Mau Tempo no Canal. This novel is a masterpiece of Portuguese literature of the 20th century.
But Nemésio’s life wasn’t always smooth sailing. He had difficulties in school. He was expelled from the Liceu de Angra and failed the 5th grade. This early setback fuelled a deep sense of being misunderstood. His experience in the Liceu wasn’t entirely negative though. He had a positive experience with Manuel António Ferreira Deusdado. Deusdado his history teacher introduced Nemésio to the world of literature. This sparked a lifelong passion that would shape his future.
At the age of 16 Nemésio took exams as an external student at the Liceu Nacional da Horta. He succeeded graduating with top marks in 1918. His stay in Horta was short only lasting from May to August. His time in Horta was significant. It was a cosmopolitan hub brimming with maritime trade and nightlife. It was a vital port of call for refuelling fleets and resting sailors. It was also home to the Submarine Telegraph Cable Companies. They turned Horta into a global communications node. This atmosphere greatly influenced his writing especially his masterpiece Mau Tempo no Canal. He began working on the novel in 1939. It was published in 1944. The story unfolds across four main islands in the central Azores group Faial Pico São Jorge and Terceira. The core of the plot however takes place in Horta.
Nemésio’s journey continued. He served in the military in 1919. This gave him his first experience outside the archipelago. He completed his secondary education in Coimbra in 1921. He initially enrolled in Law but later switched to History and Philosophy then to Romance Philology. During a trip to Spain in 1923 he met Miguel Unamuno a renowned Spanish writer and philosopher. They later exchanged letters. In 1926 Nemésio married Gabriela Monjardino de Azevedo Gomes in Coimbra. They had four children. He moved to the University of Lisbon’s Faculty of Letters in 1930. He obtained his doctorate in Literature in 1934 with his thesis A Mocidade de Herculano até à Volta do Exílio. He lectured at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel between 1937 and 1939. In 1958 he lectured in Brazil.
Nemésio’s academic career spanned nearly four decades at the University of Lisbon. He taught Italian and later Spanish literature. He presented the popular television program Se bem me lembro and directed the newspaper O Dia. He received numerous awards including the National Literature Prize in 1965 and the Montaigne Prize in 1974. He passed away in Lisbon in 1978. He was buried in Coimbra as per his wish. His death was marked by a unique request. He wished for the church bells to ring the Hallelujah instead of a traditional death knell. His wish was respected.
This simple plaque in Lisbon serves as a lasting reminder of a remarkable life. It’s a testament to the enduring legacy of Vitorino Nemésio. A man whose words continue to resonate across generations. It reminds us of the profound influence this writer had on Portuguese culture. So let us reflect for a moment on the life and work of Vitorino Nemésio.