The Surprise of Being - Tapa blanda

This collection of poetry has now been extended with translations running parallel to the original texts. Pessoa was deeply introspective, seeking objectvity through depersonalization, he wrote in various distinct personae.

Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935) is generally considered to be Portugal's greatest poet since Camoes, and a central figure of European Modernism. Deeply introspective, he sought objectivity by writing in various personae. This dual-language selection was the first in English to concentrate entirely on the haunting poems he wrote in his own name. These poems largely deal with the problem of being and non-being. It is naive, even primitive awe, not understanding, that Pessoa's poems magically conjure up.