Selected Poems: Second Edition with New Supplement - Tapa blanda

Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935) was one of the major poets of the 20th century, one of the major names in Portuguese writing, and one of the most enigmatic figures in world literature of any period. In his introduction to this dual-language Selected Poems, first published in 2004, David Butler arranges the poems thematically, setting Pessoa's various voices or personae "in active and immediate dialogue with one another," thereby providing real insight into a poet of "astonishing post-modernity." "Butler's version of the Selected Poems is as good an introduction to the enigmatic character of Pessoa's poetry as exists in English. -Michael Smith, The Irish Times "These translations of Pessoa are outstanding." -Fernando d'Oliveira Neves, former Ambassador of Portugal in Ireland

Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935) was born in Lisbon and brought up in Durban, South Africa. He returned to Lisbon in 1905. A prolific writer, ascribing his work to a variety of personas or heteronyms, Pessoa published little in his lifetime and supported himself by working as a commercial translator. Although acknowledged as an intellectual and a poet, his literary genius went largely unrecognised until after his death.