A Brasileira do Chiado presents a landmark moment in the history of Portuguese literature: the first-ever translation of a work by Fernando Pessoa into Tetum, the official language of Timor-Leste.

The translation of Mensagem was carried out by Paulo Henriques, trainer, translator, and Visiting Professor of the Master’s Degree in Teaching Portuguese in the Context of Timor-Leste at the National University of Timor.

The book launch will take place on November 7, at 11 a.m., at Camões – Institute for Cooperation and Language, in Lisbon, in a session open to the public. Guest speakers will include the Ambassador of Timor-Leste in Lisbon, Isabel Amaral Guterres; the President of Camões – Institute for Cooperation and Language, I.P., Florbela Paraíba; the President of Fundação Oriente, Carlos Monjardino; and the translator himself, who will join the session from Fundação Oriente in Dili. The event will be moderated by Catarina Carvalho, Director of Mensagem de Lisboa, the digital newspaper that has A Brasileira do Chiado as its emotional home.

In 2025, A Brasileira do Chiado also distinguished itself by launching the first-ever edition of the same work translated into Hindi, the third most spoken language in the world, and now presents, in addition to the Tetum edition, the first edition ever translated into Ukrainian. These absolute firsts are joined by new bilingual editions of A Brasileira translated into Romanian, Arabic, Polish, and Russian, expanding the collection that already includes editions in Portuguese, English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, and Mandarin. The purpose is clear: to bring Fernando Pessoa’s greatest work — a celebration of Portugal in its essence — to readers all over the world.

This launch acquires particular significance as it takes place in the month when A Brasileira do Chiado celebrates its 120th anniversary, on November 19, and when Timor-Leste marks, on November 28, the 50th anniversary of its first declaration of independence.

Free admission.

Venue: Camões – Institute for Cooperation and Language, I.P., Rua Rodrigues Sampaio, 113.