Fernando Pessoa and Islam: an introductory overview with a critical edition of twelve documents

Abstract

This paper introduces the presence of Islam and Islamic culture in the work of Fernando Pessoa. It consists of a chronological and textual overview of these themes in the author's writing and intellectual course. Focusing primarily on Pessoa's literary estate and private library, this paper points out and presents Pessoa's interests in Islam, Islamic Philosophy, Arabic literature, Omar Khayyām and al-Andalus. A hermeneutical, cultural and bio-bibliographical framework is proposed and further research possibilities are suggested. The paper is followed by a publication of twelve texts from the author's literary estate concerning these themes.

Keywords

• Islam
• Omar Khayyam
• Omar KhayyamRubāʻīyāt
• Islamic philosophy
• Filosofia islâmica
• Orientalism
• Orientalismo
• Sufism
• Sufismo
• Pessoa, FernandoLibrary