Historical Fiction — The Book Roads

The High Mountains of Portugal

Yann Martel

The High Mountains of Portugal weaves together three interconnected stories spanning nearly a century, exploring grief, faith, and the mysteries of human existence. In 1904, a young Portuguese archivist named Tomás discovers an ancient religious artifact and embarks on a journey through the countryside in search of its meaning. Thirty-five years later, a Portuguese pathologist confronts a personal tragedy that challenges his understanding of love and belief. In the final story, a Canadian senator living in contemporary Portugal finds himself drawn into an unexpected relationship with a chimpanzee, prompting him to reconsider the boundaries between humans and animals. Through these unusual narratives, Yann Martel explores the ways people respond to loss and search for meaning in a world that resists easy explanations. Blending philosophical reflection, historical fiction, and elements of the surreal, the novel examines faith, mortality, love, and humanity’s connection to the natural world.

Portugal 2016