Recent Publications on Portuguese Language and Literature (1945-1947)

Abstract

Portuguese literature has always included much noteworthy historical, polemic, or critical writing, aside from its better known masterpieces of lyric poetry or of fiction in the form of epics and novels. Suffice it to recall that both the imaginative and the reflective side were closely allied in the works of Portugal's greatest writers, Cam5es, Francisco Manuel de Melo, Antero do Quental, and E;a de Queiroz. In recent years reflective literature has continued to grow in Portugal in the direction of scientific research and critical evaluation to such an extent that a special survey is justified. A survey thus limited might give the erroneous impression that creative writing has ceased to be produced. Proof to the contrary will be found in a concise but indicative panorama of new Portuguese poetry and prose to be published by this writer in the Modern Language Journal. On the following pages an attempt will be made to give an idea of the variety and interest of recent publications on philology, the history of literature, and related fields, ranging from annotated re-editions to theses on particular authors, and from general reference works to dissertations on spelling. Without neglecting publications that have appeared in Brazil and other countries, such as our own, the bulk of the survey consists of information on books printed in Portugal, most of which could be obtained only thanks to the generous help extended by colleagues in Portugal.'