La spirale vertigineuse des discours (à propos de Fado Alexandrino d'António Lobo Antunes)

Abstract

In this essay, we aim to analyze the way in which Lobo Antunes addresses the theme of the war in Africa and its intimate connection with the April 1974 Revolution. Through hundreds of overlapping voices, this novel brings forth the actors of the war in Africa (Arnaut, 2009: 29, 31, 145) and assigns them experiences - most often traumatic - which they share and attempt to exorcize. Imbued with historically dated and situationally well-defined discourse, the charac ters (soldier, captain, lieutenant colonel, second lieutenant, and communications officer), identified primarily by their military rank (their first names appearing only sporadically, in conversation with family and close acquaintances), recount and comment on the events surrounding the April 25, 1974 Revolution, bringing to light its key dimensions.