The Portuguese: A Modern History
by Barry Hatton
A mix of historical analysis and personal anecdotes, this comprehensive history shines a light on what makes Portugal so unique and varied. Hatton explores the country’s eventful history and the impact it has had on the rest of the world.
Journey to Portugal
by José Saramago
One of the great novelists and 1998 Nobel Prize for Literature winner, José Saramago turns to non-fiction in this passionate rediscovery of his own land. In 1979, Saramago travelled through Portugal as it emerged from dictatorship, exploring extraordinary, and often long forgotten, places.
Tales from the Mountain
by Miguel Torga
Born in the Trás-os-Montes (‘behind the mountains’) region of Portugal, Torga truly understands this remote area and the people who live there. His stories of life and love give an insight into rural life and its challenges.
The High Mountains of Portugal
by Yann Martell
From the author of international bestseller Life of Pi comes a profound story of loss and faith. Told through three connecting stories, the novel follows a hunt through Portugal for an artifact that could redefine history.
The Return
by Dulce Maria Cardoso
Rui is 15 years old, living in Luanda, Angola during the The Angolan War of Independence. With defeat of the Portuguese imminent, Rui faces returning to his homeland, but without his father who has been captured by rebels.
The Elephant’s Journey
by José Saramago
For two years Solomon the elephant has lived in Lisbon but now, on his way to become a gift for a Hapsburg archduke in Vienna, he must journey by foot to his new home. A charming, witty and moving novel.
The Maias
by Jose Maria de Eca de Queiroz
This book follows the lives of a fictional aristocratic family in 1870s Portugal. We follow the family’s dramas and downfall with a unique insight into 19th century Lisbon society.
Very Short History of Portugal
by A. H. de Oliveira Marques
Oliveira Marques expertly summarises Portugal’s long and complex history in this short but rigorous history.
If you’ve been inspired to come cycling and walking through Portugal’s Côa Valley with us, find out more about our journeys or enquire now.
