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Luís Cardoso de Noronha

ルイス・カルドーゾ・デ・ノローニャ

Luís Cardoso de Noronha

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1958-12-08 （Cailaco, Bobonaro, Portuguese Timor (now East Timor)）
Nationality
East Timor
Languages
Portuguese, Tetum
Residence History
Portugal (Lisbon) → East Timor (Cailaco, Dili)

Career

Occupations
Writer, Professor of Tetum and Portuguese Language
Active Years
1990-
Memberships
National Council of Maubere Resistance (Conselho Nacional da Resistência Maubere, CNRM)
Influenced By
José Eduardo Agualusa (contemporary and fellow student)

Education

Instituto Superior de Agronomia (University of Lisbon)
Faculty of Agriculture / Silviculture
Degree: 学士
Period: 1970年代（奨学金を受けて渡欧）
Country: Portugal
Obtained a degree in silviculture. Also reported to have qualifications in law, environmental politics and mathematics.

Awards

Prêmio Oceanos
2021
Work: O Plantador de Abóboras (Sonata para uma Neblina) — The Pumpkin Planter (Sonata for a Fog)
Organization: Oceanos - Prêmio de Literatura em Língua Portuguesa
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Crossing (Crónica de uma Travessia)

1997 Memoir / Autobiographical fiction

An autobiographical memoir recounting childhood in colonial Timor and subsequent exile in Lisbon; intertwines East Timorese history with personal coming-of-age.

ExileMemoryColonialism
Translations
  • English translation (translated by Jull Costa, 2002)

Owl Eyes – Cat Eyes (Olhos de Coruja, Olhos de Gato Bravo)

2001 Novel / Historical fable

A novel reflecting on the profound consequences of Portugal's Carnation Revolution for its former colony in Southeast Asia.

RevolutionSocial changeMemory

The Last Death of Colonel Santiago (A Última Morte do Coronel Santiago)

2003 Novel

A story of an expatriate returning to his homeland and confronting crimes committed by his ancestors; questions cycles of memory and violence.

GuiltFamily historyConfrontation

Requiem for a Solitary Navigator (Requiem para um Navegador solitário)

2007 Novel

Explores identity and memory through personal and historical journeys.

JourneySelf-discoveryHistory

The Year Pigafetta Completed His Circumnavigation (O Ano em que Pigafetta completou a Circum-Navegação)

2012 Historical novel

Reconsiders East Timor's place through themes of exploration and historical reconsideration.

ExplorationReassessment of history

Where do Cats Go when They Die? A Biblical Parable (Para onde vão os Gatos quando morrem? Uma Parábola Bíblica)

2017 Parable / Novel

Uses parable-like storytelling to explore faith, loss and questions of existence.

FaithLossParable

The Pumpkin Planter (Sonata for a Fog) (O Plantador de Abóboras (Sonata para uma Neblina))

2020 Novel

Through a female narrator the novel traces three wars involving East Timor (the 1911–12 Manufahi rebellion, the Japanese occupation in WWII, and the Indonesian invasion and occupation) and uses pumpkins as a metaphor to question sustainability and resource dependency.

WarMemorySustainabilityNation and resources

Bibliography

  • Crónica de uma Travessia (1997) / The Crossing (English translation 2002)
  • Olhos de Coruja, Olhos de Gato Bravo (2001) / Owl Eyes – Cat Eyes
  • A Última Morte do Coronel Santiago (2003) / The Last Death of Colonel Santiago
  • Requiem para um Navegador solitário (2007) / Requiem for a Solitary Navigator
  • O Ano em que Pigafetta completou a Circum-Navegação (2012) / The Year Pigafetta Completed His Circumnavigation
  • Para onde vão os Gatos quando morrem? Uma Parábola Bíblica (2017) / Where do Cats Go when They Die? A Biblical Parable
  • O Plantador de Abóboras (Sonata para uma Neblina) (2020) / The Pumpkin Planter (Sonata for a Fog)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Lyrical yet historical narrative voiceStyle that bridges oral traditions and written literature
Recurring Motifs
MemoryWar and occupationLand/agriculture (nature)Migration and exile

Legacy

An important writer who has fictionalized East Timorese history and memory. In 2021 he became the first Timorese author to win the Prêmio Oceanos, and is credited with helping to open the path for written Timorese literature.

Quotes

  • "Writing is my form of civic intervention as a citizen of my country."
    Source: Lusa (interview) (2015)
  • "We have oral literature, but we don't have written literature in Timor and written literature is starting and I'm kicking off."
    Source: Tatoli / SAPO (remarks after award) (2021)

Trivia

  • East Timorese writer active in Portugal since the 1990s.
  • First Timorese author to win the Prêmio Oceanos (2021).
  • Holds a degree in silviculture.
  • Worked with the National Council of Maubere Resistance (CNRM).