Overview

The Unknown Islands is considered one of the most beautiful works of travel literature in Portuguese and one of the most important homages to the Azorean archipelago. In the summer of 1924, Raul Brandão undertook a trip with other intellectuals through the Azores and Madeira. Fascinated with the landscapes of the islands and seduced by the people, he went on to pen this foundational text of Azorean literature—elegantly capturing the history, memory, and imaginary of this storied place.

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9781951470005

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Brandao describes his wonder at the rich flora and fauna as if it were a sacred pastoral music, a sleeping forest, a musical dream of the sound of water that filled him with ecstasy. The chapters on whaling and fishermen are dramatic, novelistic episodes within the poetic travelogue. Brandao paints an illuminating portrait of the Azores from 100 years ago. The book is beautifully translated by Brookshaw.--CHOICE [David Brookshaw's] sensitive translation of Brandao, 'poet', painter and consummate realist, makes The Unknown Islands a joy to read, especially uplifting and welcome in this troubled year of 2020.--Metamorphoses

Brandao describes his wonder at the rich flora and fauna as if it were a sacred pastoral music, a sleeping forest, a musical dream of the sound of water that filled him with ecstasy. The chapters on whaling and fishermen are dramatic, novelistic episodes within the poetic travelogue. Brandao paints an illuminating portrait of the Azores from 100 years ago. The book is beautifully translated by Brookshaw.--CHOICE [David Brookshaw's] sensitive translation of Brandao, 'poet', painter and consummate realist, makes The Unknown Islands a joy to read, especially uplifting and welcome in this troubled year of 2020.--Metamorphoses

Author Information

Raul Brandao (1867-1930) was a Portuguese intellectual, writer, journalist, and military officer. His writing is characterized by the powerful realism of his literary descriptions and the moving lyricism of his language. Although he published in a variety of genres, his sensitive and sympathetic portrayal of the human condition remained the central theme of his work. David Brookshaw is professor emeritus at the University of Bristol, United Kingdom. He has published widely in the field of Brazilian and Lusophone post-colonial studies. His translations include, most recently, Mia Couto's Woman of the Ashes (2018) and Carlos Morais José's The Archive of Confessions (2019). His translation of Mia Couto's A Espada e a Azagaia is due out in 2020.

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