Nobel laureate and political commentator Jose Saramago dies aged 87

NOBEL literature prize winner Jose Saramago, who left his native Portugal after arguing with his country’s government, has died at the age of 87, his Spanish publisher said yesterday.

Saramago, a card-carrying member of Portugal’s Communist Party who won the Nobel prize in 1998, was known for combining magical realism with hard-edged political comment, often harshly criticising Portuguese history, conservatism and religion. The Saramago Foundation said he had died of multiple organ failure after a prolonged illness. “I think this is a great loss for Portuguese culture,” Prime Minister Jose Socrates told journalists.

“His works have made Portugal proud, his death will leave our culture poorer.”