José Saramago's 'Essay on Blindness' Marks 30 Years Since Publication

In 1995 Portuguese writer José Saramago published *Ensayo sobre la ceguera* (Essay on Blindness), a novel he described as his most uncomfortable work. The book, written amid political pressure after the denial of an international prize for his earlier novel, earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1998 and has been hailed as a powerful metaphor for moral and societal blindness.

Thirty years later, commentators in Spain and Portugal reflect on the novel’s enduring relevance. They note that the story’s portrayal of collective moral blindness resonates with contemporary issues such as political polarization, information overload, and urban challenges in places like Alicante. The anniversary prompts renewed discussion of the novel’s place in the literary canon and its commentary on human behavior.