Portuguese novelist and journalist born on 16 November 1922 in Azinhaga, Portugal to a family of farmers. He won the Nobel prize in literature in 1988. He began his career as a locksmith then a journalist and translator before he devoted all his time to writing. He published his first novel "Land of Sin" in 1947 followed by a 19 year hiatus, after which he published his first poetry collection "Os Poemas Possiveis" in 1966. He published around 20 books and is considered one of the most important writers in Portuguese history. He received several awards for his writings. His 1995 novel titled "Blindness" was adapted into a 2008 film of the same name. He died on 18 June 2010 in Tías, Spain.