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Germano Almeida

ジェルマノ・アルメイダ

Germano Almeida

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1945-07-31 （Boa Vista, Cape Verde）
Nationality
Cape Verdean
Languages
Portuguese
Residence History
Boa Vista (birthplace) → Mindelo (professional practice) → Lisbon (studies)

Career

Occupations
writer, lawyer
Active Years
1982-
Affiliations
Ilhéu Editora (founder / publishing house)

Education

University of Lisbon
Faculty of Law / Law
Country: Portugal
Studied law (exact graduation year unknown)

Awards

Order of the Dragon Plant
Organization: Government of Cape Verde (award)
Result: 受章
Order of Merit (Portugal)
Organization: Portuguese Republic (award)
Result: 受章
Camões Prize
2018
Organization: Camões Prize committee
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

O dia das calças roladas

1983 Novel / prose (early work, about a strike)

An early work about a strike on the island of Santo Antão.

laborlocal communitypolitics

The Last Will and Testament of Senhor da Silva Araújo

1989 Novel (social satire)

A novel satirizing post-independence society and the legacy of colonialism through the story of a businessman who leaves his fortune to an illegitimate daughter.

colonial legacysocial satireinheritance and status
Adaptations
  • [Film] The Last Will and Testament of Senhor da Silva Araújo (film) / Francisco Manso (1997)
Translations
  • English translation (New Directions, 2004)

Fantastic Island

1994 Novel

A novel set on an island with elements of fantasy or allegory.

island societyallegoryculture and identity

Two Brothers

1995 Novel

A story about two brothers; the work was also adapted for the stage.

familyconflictlocality
Adaptations
  • [Theatre] Os Dois Irmãos (theatrical production) (1999)

Eva

2006 Novel

A novel published in 2006.

human relationshipsmemory

De Monte Cara vê-se o mundo

2014 Essay / novel

Published in 2014; a work reflecting perspectives from Monte Cara.

local perspectivehistory

Bibliography

  • O dia das calças roladas (1982/1983)
  • The Last Will and Testament of Senhor da Silva Araújo (1989)
  • My Poet (O meu poeta) (1992)
  • Fantastic Island (A ilha fantástica) (1994)
  • Two Brothers (Os dois irmãos) (1995)
  • Tales From the House (Estórias de dentro de casa) (1996)
  • A morte do meu poeta (1998)
  • A Família Trago (1998)
  • Estórias contadas (1998)
  • Dona Pura e os Camaradas de Abril (1999)
  • As memórias de um espírito (2001)
  • Cabo Verde – Viagem pela história das ilhas (2003)
  • O mar na Lajinha (2004)
  • Eva (2006)
  • A morte do ouvidor (2010)
  • De Monte Cara vê-se o mundo (2014)
  • O Fiel Defunto (2018)

Adaptations

  • Film adaptation of 'The Last Will and Testament of Senhor da Silva Araújo' (director: Francisco Manso, 1997)
  • Stage productions of 'Os Dois Irmãos' and 'Agravos de um Artista' (Mindelo, 1999-2000)

Translations of Works

  • The Last Will and Testament of Senhor da Silva Araújo — English translation (New Directions, 2004)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
humorous and ironic narrationrealist style with allegorical elements
Recurring Motifs
legacy of colonialism and post-independence societyinterpersonal relations in island communitiessatire and humor

Legacy

One of the leading writers of Cape Verdean literature, known for satirical humor and social insight. His works have been translated and adapted, and he received the Camões Prize in 2018, recognizing his contribution to Lusophone literature.

In Popular Culture

  • The film adaptation of 'The Last Will and Testament...' was produced in 1997 and won an award at the Gramado Film Festival in Brazil.

Trivia

  • Founded the publishing house Ilhéu Editora in 1989 and was involved in publishing his works and Cape Verdean literature.
  • Won the Camões Prize in 2018.