A man goes to the king's door of petitions and asks for a boat to find an unknown island. The king's initial reaction is that there are none left to discover, but the man insists. The cleaning woman, whose job is to watch the door for the king, leaves her post to follow him to the harbor. They find a boat, and she joins in the preparations. The small crew sails toward an island that no map has recorded, and the question becomes what it means to reach yourself.
Saramago's tale is a short fable, written without his usual long paragraphs of dialogue, and suits people who want a light entry into his style. It's good for anyone interested in parables about desire and self-knowledge.
Deep, contemplative and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Wisdom Collector. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1998
- Publisher
- Companhia das Letras
- ISBN
- 9788571648494
- Language
- PT
