When Bernardim Ribeiro (1482-1552), one of the most relevant Portuguese writers, native of the Alentejo (historical region of Portugal), coined the term Saudade, in the subtitle of his novel Menina e moça (“Little and young”), times were still far away before a group of 20th century intellectuals judged this sentiment as the most representative manifestation of Portuguese culture. Yet, from the time of Ribeiro onwards that attitude dwells not only in the best pages of Lusitanian literature, from Saramago to Pessoa, to name two of the best-known personalities, but also in the experience of every Portuguese.
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