Not before long, and in need of an assistant, Pereira hires Monteiro Rossi, a young man of a radical disposition, who, instead of adhering to government regulations, persistently sends in articles reflecting his leftist political views. In vain, he tries to separate literature from politics. He firmly holds onto apolitical sentiments, preferring instead the comfort of literature and its translation as he heads the Culture segment of a small, independent magazine. Through the protagonist Pereira-a middle-aged journalist stricken by grief from his wife’s death-his avoidant attitude is ever-resonant: this unspoken choice of indifference, this compliance by turning a blind eye to oppression, censorship, as long as one is not directly affected by them.

In mere hundred pages, and newspaper and magazine articles relayed between characters, Tabucchi’s Pereira Maintains encapsulates the uncertainties and dangers of the era as the threat of the Second World War also brews far up the horizons. With the rise of extreme right-wing European populism during the 1930s, Portugal sees itself under the corporatist regime of Salazar, staying neutral on the surface as the Spanish civil war wages while aiding Franco’s National Army furtively behind doors. He has been awareded many prestigious literary awards and prizes including the Premio Campiello, The Premio Viareggio and teh Aristeion Prize for this book.'Silva, we’re not in Europe, we're in Portugal.' Tabucci is the author of twenty novels, nine of which have been translated into English.

An extraordinary novel from one of Italy's most acclaimed contemporary writers read by Sir Derek Jacobi, one of Britain's best-loved actors who recently appeared in The Kings Speech. Pereira Maintains chronicles Pereira's ascent to consciousness, culminating in a devastating and reckless act of rebellion. Pereira gives Rossi work, even after discovering that he is using the money to recruit for the anti-Franco International Brigade.

All this changes when he meets Francesco Monteiro Rossi, an oddly charismatic young man. Something of a recluse, his closest confidante is a photograph of his late wife, and he is happy to immerse himself in stories from nineteenth-century French literature. An editor at a second-rate Lisbon newspaper, Dr Pereira, wants nothing to do with European politics. Set in the sweltering summer of 1938 in Portugal, a country under the Fascist shadow of Spain, Pereira Maintains tells a tale of reluctant heroism. Narrated by Sir Derek Jacobi with great feeling and style who also read it for Radio 4’s book at bedtime broadcast.

Tabucchi pereira