'Saramago writes beautifully, and his style is ruminative.for those who appreciate finely wrought, meditative prose' Kirkus H. is a struggling artist with a commission to paint a portrait of a well-known industrialist. Whilst the industrialist sits for the portrait, H. begins an affair with his subject's secretary. Meanwhile the painting starts to fail. For inspiration H. takes a trip to Italy to contemplate the works of the great artists but when his friend back home is arrested by the secret police of Salazar's regime, H is pulled back to Portugal.

Art, sexuality and politics collide in Saramago's first novel. See also: Cain.