Fernando Pessoa: A Critical Introduction by Jerónimo Pizarro (review)

By proposing that poetry is a form of resistance, Martelo challenges a current view of poetry as a mere decoration of reality — she is concerned, like William Marx, with L’Adieu à la littérature — showing how poetry can create a space of defiance against the dehumanizing effects of modern vertigo. In this sense, Devagar, a Poesia is not only a book about poetry, but also about the role of culture in society, about the importance of critical thinking, and about the need to resist the homogenizing effects of global capitalism. Through its thoughtful and inspiring arguments, this book invites us to slow down, to read poetry with care, and to imagine a better future for ourselves and for the generations to come. It might be enough to conclude by indicating that the book ends with a chapter titled ‘Notes for the salvation of the world’.