Early life

Pires was born in the Portuguese village of São João do Peso,^[1] which is within the district of Castelo Branco near the border of Spain.^[2] His father was in the merchant navy and his mother was a homemaker. Pires studied mathematics at the University of Lisbon, where he published his first short story. He left university to join the Portuguese Navy, from which he was later discharged for disciplinary issues. His writing was greatly influenced by the city of Lisbon, the streets of which are described in great detail in his novels and short stories.

Some of his paternal family members immigrated to the United States. Pires connected to American writing styles at a time when Portugal looked to France (and somewhat to north-eastern Brazilian regionalism) for its narrative models.

In a documentary produced for Portuguese television, Pires spoke about how after he saw his first film as a boy, it led him to seek refuge in cinemas. Pires would recount the plot of the movie to his peers at school. According to Pires, this helped mold his storytelling. He also talked about the formative role of cineclubes, or film societies. These generally left-leaning associations, in his words, "contributed to the political and social education of many people."^[3]

Publishing career

After his stint in the Portuguese Navy, Pires began working as a journalist and devoted himself to writing. He developed a reputation as an author who was capable of reconciling popularity with critical acclaim.

One of his most famous works is a novel titled O Delfim published in 1968.^[1]

In 1991, he was honored with the Latin Union Prize for Literature in recognition of his literary contributions.^[1] His 1997 memoir, De Profundis, was inspired by the experience of suffering a brain ischemia a couple years prior. In that same year, he won the Prémio Pessoa.^[2]

Numerous works have been adapted into films, including O Delfim. He was awarded Prémio Bordalo de Literatura da Casa da Imprensa twice and was one of the most influential Portuguese writers of his time. ^[2]

Awarded to the author

• Prémio Internacional União Latina, Roma, 1991
• Astrolábio de Ouro do Prémio Internacional Ultimo Novecento, Pisa, 1992
• Prémio Bordalo de Literatura da Casa da Imprensa, 1994
• Prémio Bordalo de Literatura da Casa da Imprensa, 1997
• Pessoa Prize, 1997
• Grande Prémio Vida Literária da Associação Portuguesa de Escritores, 1998

Awarded to individual works

• Prémio Camilo Castelo Branco, pela Sociedade Portuguesa de Escritores, 1964 (O Hóspede de Job)
• Grande Prémio de Romance e Novela, pela Associação Portuguesa de Escritores, 1982 (Balada da Praia dos Cães)
• Prémio Especial da Associação dos Críticos do Brasil, São Paulo, 1988 (Alexandra Alpha)
• Prémio D. Diniz, da Fundação Casa de Mateus, 1997 (De Profundis, Valsa Lenta)
• Prémio da Crítica do Centro Português da Associação Internacional de Críticos Literários, 1997 (De Profundis, Valsa Lenta)