Centenary of Eça de Queiroz's death

Widely read and studied

A hundred years after his death, Eça de Queiroz (1845-1900) still lives. More so perhaps than a century ago. Unlike so many great authors, he did not enter that dark period following death. He is still widely read and studied.
Some read and re-read him for pure aesthetic pleasure and others admire his gift for a well-told story.
A good old nineteenth century story with a beginning, a middle and an end. Some prefer Eça the fiction writer, others Eça the chronicler or Eça the letter writer.
Great titles from a long list of works written during his short life:
'Os Maias' (The Maias), a novel of vast scope, such as few produced in Portugal.
'A Ilustre Casa de Ramires' (The Illustrious Ramires Family), a novel in two registers or times, the past and present interwoven.
'Contos' (Tales), a type of mosaic showing the realistic and fantastic Eça and the ironic and compassionate Eça.
'Notas Contemporáneas' (Contemporary Notes), the era's themes and figures captured with accurate observation and keen critical sense.
'Correspondéncia de Fradique Mendes' (Fradique Mendes' Letters), a way of living, philosophising and writing.

Controversial

Controversial like all great men, Eça de Queiroz was accused of being French in his writing and foreign in his way of living. In truth, he was one of the greatest stylists, a Portuguese who lived far from his country and suffered incurable homesickness for the Portuguese landscape, clirnate, gastronomy and wines.

More information

Stamps of Portugal
Postage Stamps 2000