Fernando Pessoa

Date of Birth: June 13, 1888

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: November 30, 1935

Biography

Fernando Pessoa, born Fernando António Nogueira Pessoa, was a renowned Portuguese poet, writer, literary critic, and translator. Born on June 13, 1888, in Lisbon, Portugal, Pessoa is considered one of the greatest literary figures of the 20th century. His works have had a profound impact on Portuguese literature, and he is often compared to the likes of James Joyce and T.S. Eliot. Pessoa was educated in South Africa, where he became fluent in English, a language he used frequently in his writings. He returned to Lisbon in 1905 and began his career as a writer and translator. Pessoa is most famous for his use of heteronyms—distinct alternate personalities, each with their own writing style and biography. Some of his most well-known heteronyms include Alberto Caeiro, Ricardo Reis, and Álvaro de Campos. Despite his literary genius, Pessoa lived much of his life in relative obscurity, working as a translator and editor to make ends meet. He published only one book in Portuguese during his lifetime, “Mensagem” (Message), which was released in 1934. However, his posthumous fame has grown exponentially, and his works have been translated into numerous languages, garnering international acclaim. Pessoa passed away on November 30, 1935, at the age of 47, but his legacy continues to influence and inspire writers and poets around the world.

5 Interesting Facts about Fernando Pessoa

1. Pessoa wrote under more than 70 heteronyms, each with its own distinct personality, writing style, and even biography.

2. He spent nine years of his childhood in Durban, South Africa, where he attended a prestigious English-language school.

3. Pessoa was proficient in several languages, including Portuguese, English, French, and German.

4. His only book published in Portuguese during his lifetime, “Mensagem” (Message), won a literary prize given by the Portuguese government.

5. Despite his immense talent and output, Pessoa lived most of his life in poverty and relative anonymity.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Fernando Pessoa

1. “To feel today what one felt yesterday isn’t to feel—it’s to remember today what was felt yesterday, to be today’s living corpse of what yesterday was lived and lost.”

2. “Literature is the most agreeable way of ignoring life.”

3. “I am nothing. I shall always be nothing. I cannot want to be anything. Aside from that, I have within me all the dreams of the world.”

4. “The value of things is not the time they last, but the intensity with which they occur. That is why there are unforgettable moments and unique people!”

5. “I bear the wounds of all the battles I avoided.”