Skylight

A fluid and imaginative translation by Margaret Jull Costa… A masterly creation: pessimistic without being bleak, lyrical without being sentimental… Saramago tears back that curtain to reveal not only the stage on which life is performed but also backstage, under unflattering working lights; to show humanity at its most anxious, its most vulnerable and most true

James Runcie, Independent

For admirers of his work...the rescue of this novel from oblivion is something to be grateful for. The translator, Margaret Jull Costa, as ever, does a splendid job

Times Literary Supplement

Not only does it illuminate the slow development of a radically original artist, but it is an interesting novel in its own right

Ursula Le Guin, The Guardian

This is one of Saramago’s early works but his eye for psychological nuance and his gift for sympathy are already in evidence

New Statesman

Skylight is a deeply affecting novel, the work of an already adroit writer who marshals his characters with assurance

Evening Standard

A novel that stands securely on its own merits and is a worthy addition to the rich body of Saramago’s work

Allan Massie, Scotsman

Saramago’s insightful writing is a pleasure to be immersed in, as he brings this microcosm of society to life with all the foibles, frustrations and passions of daily life

Good Book Guide