Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Olha, que coisas mais lindas!: Gorgeous Portuguese crime-fiction covers

(Courtesy of
Luís Miguel Queirós)
I head for Portugal on vacation this week and, as usual when I travel, I'll try to find out a bit about the local crime-fiction scene.

My first search turned up a colorful blog post from Cullen Gallagher, a fellow Noircon attendee who is not from Portugal but who did post some eye-catching covers of American, English, and other European crime novels translated into Portuguese. The covers are courtesy of an acquaintance of Cullen's who also supplies background about their creator and publication history.

One of the covers illustrates this post. See the rest over at Cullen's Pulp Serenade.

© Peter Rozovsky 2011

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21 Comments:

Blogger Dana King said...

Bon voyage, Peter, Have a fun and safe trip.

November 23, 2011  
Anonymous I.J.Parker said...

Oh, wow! Lucky dog. Have fun!

The covers are nice. It does make a change from tghe eternal nightime photographs of people walking away from the camera.

November 23, 2011  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

Thanks, Dana. With blessings from nosso senhor do bonfim, I shall try for a safe, pleasant trip.

November 23, 2011  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

Thanks, I.J. That cover designer knew and loved his cubists and his surrealists, that's for sure. The cover I chose is attractive on its own and also thematically well suited to a murder mystery. It's unsettling but also a bit mischievous and fun, as a good mystery ought to be, I think.

November 23, 2011  
Blogger seana graham said...

Great covers.

Have a great trip, and I hope you track down some interesting crime writers!

November 23, 2011  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

Thanks. I don't know of any crime writers in Portugal, but I could find out. I've written to the source of Cullen's ccvers and if we can arrange a meeting, I'll ask all about what the Portuguese populace reads and writes in crime fiction. He lives in Porto, so even if I find no noir, I may sample some good port.

November 23, 2011  
Blogger seana graham said...

Sounds like it will be good trip in any case.

November 23, 2011  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

I think so. I plan some archarological tourism, notable at the Foz Coa archaeological park, which is relatively newly discoveed. What it looks like, in essence, is the caves at Lascaux and Altamira, except above ground and sprawling over acres. Lots of Neolithic stone monuments, too, and at least traces of the many peoples who have passed through, including Celts.

November 23, 2011  
Blogger seana graham said...

Take some pictures if you can.

November 23, 2011  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

I bought a memory card for my camera today!

November 23, 2011  
Blogger seana graham said...

Just don't forget to pack it!

Or, uh, load it.

November 23, 2011  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

I agree it would be a hell of a thing to forget one’s memory card. But I have loaded it already. Now all I have to do is not forget to pack the camera.

November 23, 2011  
Blogger seana graham said...

There's always something.

November 23, 2011  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

Camera, batteries, and charger packed?

Check.

Adapter for European plugs packed?

Of course bloody not. Naturally I can't find it, so of course I'll have to buy a new one.

November 24, 2011  
Anonymous kathy d. said...

That cover is fantastic! Wish more were around like that ... real artwork, not just a fancy font on a blank page, an inappropriate photograph or too-busy design.

Have a good time in Portugal, what seems like one of the most beautiful countries in the world. I'm sure the coast is majestic.

Have heard the paella is great.

Also, I don't know of Portuguese crime fiction writers, but somewhat relevant is The Missing Head of Damasceno Monteiro.

This excellent book is by Antonio Tabucchi, and is set in Portugal. It's based on a real crime there, which Tabucchi researched.

Tabucchi lives part of the year in Portugal.

November 24, 2011  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

I'll have to see if train or bus routes will take me along the coast. My itinerary will likely take me from Lisbon to Porto. If I look to my left, I should be able to see the water.

And thanks for that recommendation. I'll look for it first chance I get.

November 24, 2011  
Blogger seana graham said...

Way off topic, although not for this blog, you might want to go on over to Bookwitch's place and watch the little video she's showing there.

Fans of Detectives Without Borders will appreciate it.

November 24, 2011  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

I loved the closing credits!

November 24, 2011  
Blogger seana graham said...

Yes, although they were, well, a bit repetitive...

November 24, 2011  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

Those Swedes and Danes are resourceful people. They can do so much with just three names, two dots, and a few slashes.

November 24, 2011  
Blogger erc said...

I am looking for fans of new authors that are open to issuing reviews of mystery / thrillers and crime stories. My book, available at Amazon and Smashwords is
THE DEVIL'S AUDITOR
Previews are available on Amazon and Smashwords or Google the title.

I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR VIEWS

November 25, 2011  

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