Introduction to José Saramago’s archive

Abstract

In this study, we demonstrate how José Saramago's literary work encompasses the process of conception, research and realization of telling a story, making it exemplary and fundamental to the field of genetic criticism. To this end, we will analyze briefly how Saramago's archive contributes to a better understanding of the genesis of his most prized fiction. The José Saramago Foundation's successive donations to the writer's archive, which is in the National Library of Portugal, allows a significant critical renewal of his works, as knowledge about his archive increases, contradicting those who think that wish to say something new about his already much commented literature is the same as invent the wheel again. Finally, we will see that the genetic approach to Saramago's works points to a typology of representations that situate and clarify the specific relationship between his narrative and the various types of sources consulted by the author during the writing process. Only by identifying these specific documentary relationships will we effectively understand the creative phases of Saramago's texts, exploring new comparisons and new meanings.