March 26 is the day of Livro Português
March 26 is the day of Livro Português. It was established by the Portuguese Authors Society with the objective of highlighting the importance of books, knowledge and the Portuguese language throughout the world.
The selection of March 26 goes back to an important historical moment: in 1487, the first book was printed in Portugal, or “Pentateuco”, in Hebrew. The book was produced in the offices of Jewish Samuel Gacon, in Vila-a-Dentro, in Faro. The first book written in Portuguese was printed in 1497, not Porto, by Rodrigo Álvares, the first Portuguese printer. The title of the work was “Constituições que fez o Senhor Dom Diogo de Sousa, Bispo do Porto”, and was published on January 4.
The Portuguese Book Day celebrates the rich literary tradition of Portugal and two Portuguese-speaking countries, reconnoitring the impact of Portuguese literature on the global scene. To date it does not just promote or praise reading, but also values writers and works that mark Lusophone literature, such as Fernando Pessoa, José Saramago, and Eça de Queirós, besides the new voices of contemporary literature.
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