The Reception of William Beckford in Portugal

Maria Laura Bettencourt Pires

doi:10.5216/sig.v21i1.8622

Abstract

In this paper I explore some new avenues for investigation concerning William Beckford’s reception in Portugal. His literary production, as well as his life and public persona, were a source of inspiration to writers, scholars and musicians in Portugal. He lived on in critical and popular memory through translations, literary and research works and illustrations practically since his first visit to that country in 1787 until today. Along this article we’ll see how the image of Beckford evolved in Portugal.

Highlights

In this paper I explore some new avenues for investigation concerning William Beckford’s reception in Portugal
Recebido em 15 de abril de 2009 Aceito em 15 de maio de 2009. Even regarding his most controversial attitudes Beckford found an ambience in Portugal in which even imposture concerning religious devotion was accepted and this allowed him to integrate in Portuguese society
At the beginning he was seen as a very rich English nobleman who was the suitor of the daughter of one the most distinguished Portuguese families, the Marialvas, and who offered magnificent gifts even to the Queen herself (1840). Personal references, such as the ones from Abade Xavier1 – who was already dead, when Beckford returned to Portugal in 17942 – whose friendly remarks about the man and his work, which he had read and appreciated, must in the meantime have contributed to turn the author of Italy and Vathek almost into a legend in Portugal

Summary

Introduction

In this paper I explore some new avenues for investigation concerning William Beckford’s reception in Portugal. In the field of music – so admired by Beckford – that there was a more productive and artistic reception in Portugal for, in 1913, Vathek inspired a well-known Portuguese composer, Luís de Freitas Branco (1890-1955), to write a symphonic-poem with the same title and to translate parts of the work (Pires, 1987; 1990).

Results

Conclusion