"If proofreaders were given their freedom and did not have their hands
and feet tied by a mass of prohibitions more binding than the penal
code, they would soon transform the face of the world, establish the
kingdom of universal happiness, giving drink to the thirsty, food to the
famished, peace to those who live in turmoil, joy to the sorrowful...
for they would be able to do all these things simply by changing the
words...." The power of the word is evident in Portuguese author José
Saramago's novel, The History of the Siege of Lisbon. His protagonist,
a proofreader named Raimundo Silva, adds a key word to a history of
Portugal and thus rewrites not only the past, but also his own life.
Brilliantly translated from the Portuguese by Giovanni Pontiero, The
History of the Siege of Lisbon is a meditation on the differences
between historiography, historical fiction, and "stories inserted into
history." The novel is really two stories in one: the reimagined history
of the 1147 siege of Lisbon that Raimundo feels compelled to write and
the story of Raimundo's life, including his unexpected love affair with
the editor, Maria Sara. In Saramago's masterful hands, the strands of
this complex tale weave together to create a satisfying whole.
