With this novel, one of the pinnacles of literature in this decade, Antonio Tabucchi achieved unanimous critical acclaim, the most prestigious awards, and a massive readership response.

Lisbon, 1938. The oppressive Salazar dictatorship, the fury of the Spanish Civil War knocking at the door, and in the background, Italian fascism. In this Europe haunted by the virulent specter of totalitarianism, Pereira, a journalist who has dedicated his entire life to the crime section, is commissioned to edit the cultural page of a mediocre newspaper, the Lisboa. Pereira has a somewhat funereal view of culture: he prefers the literature of the past, writing elegies for deceased writers, and preparing obituaries in advance. Needing a collaborator, he contacts a young man, Monteiro Rossi, who, despite having written his thesis on death, is unequivocally committed to life. And the intense relationship that develops between the aging journalist, Monteiro, and his girlfriend Marta will culminate in a personal crisis, an inner maturation, and a painful realization that will profoundly transform Pereira's life.

In this novel, Tabucchi has created an unforgettable character who will undoubtedly leave a deep mark on the reader: Pereira. And through this journalist's story, Tabucchi also offers us a splendid tale about how the reasons behind our past can very well be the reasons for our uncertain present.