When: Thursday, April 18, 2024, 5:00 PM - Where: QMUL ArtsOne, Hitchcock Cinema, Mile End
Speaker: Hugo Gonçalves (novelist)
The Carnation Revolution in Portugal in 1974 was a watershed moment in the country's contemporary history, ending decades of dictatorship. In a context of oppression by the secret police, restricted women's rights, widespread poverty, clear civilizational delay, and a country worn down by emigration and the colonial war, this revolution emerged as a genuine expression of the people's desire for change. The lecture will explore the period following April 25th, known as the PREC, which was a critical phase in the gestation of Portuguese democracy, despite being marked by times of violence and excess. Additionally, we will discuss how the family is portrayed as a central element in the novel Revolução, weaving together characters and plots in a literary work that reflects the social and political dynamics of that turbulent era. We will conclude with a reflection on how the right to freedom entails a commitment to memory, highlighting the current challenges of preserving democratic principles and emphasizing the importance of remembering the past to guide the future.
Hugo Gonçalves (1976) is a Portuguese author known for his various novels, including "Filho da Mãe," a finalist for the PEN Clube and Fernando Namora awards, and "Deus Pátria Família." He is also a co-author and scriptwriter for the television series "País Irmão" and "Até que a vida nos separe." He has worked as a correspondent for several Portuguese publications in New York, Madrid, and Rio de Janeiro, as well as a literary editor in Rio de Janeiro. Hugo Gonçalves is an award-winning journalist and one of the creators of the podcast "Sem barbas na língua." His latest novel is "Revolução," a story about the revolutionary period in contemporary Portuguese history.
An initiative of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at QMUL and the Camões Institute for Cooperation and Language.
Followed by a reception.