Baltasar and Blimunda
Book description
In eighteenth-century Portugal, fifty thousand laborers carry stones on their backs across mountains to build the king's convent, a heretical priest devises a magic flying machine--the Passarola--and two lovers' dream of flight sets them apart.
Why read it?
1 author picked Baltasar and Blimunda as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
I admit, Baltasar and Blimunda is not the type of historical fiction I generally pick up (a more distanced narrative voice plus magical realism doesn’t tend to be my normal pick for pleasure reading) but I felt I needed to read at least one novel set in 18th century Portugal before trying to write my own set there. Something by a Portuguese author as well seemed entirely the way to go. So, I picked this up, and am really glad I did.
From Jessica's list on historical fiction in lesser-known settings.
If you love Baltasar and Blimunda...
Shahrazad's Gift
Shahrazad’s Gift is a collection of linked short stories set in contemporary Cairo — magical, absurd, and humorous.
The author focuses on the off-beat, little-known stories, far from CNN news: a Swedish belly dancer who taps into the Oriental fantasies of her clientele; a Japanese woman studying Arabic, driven mad…
Want books like Baltasar and Blimunda?
Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Baltasar and Blimunda.
Share your top 3 reads of 2024!
And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.
1,592
readers submitted
so far, will you?
