VIRTUAL London Heritages Conference

Abstract

This research critically examines Baptista-Bastos’ Colina de Cristal (1987), a novel awarded the P.E.N. Clube Português Prize for Fiction. It explores how Lisbon functions not only as a setting but as an active narrative force, where both its architectural and literary heritage converge to shape collective memory and identity. The city’s urban spaces—historic buildings, streets, and squares—serve as active elements in the narrative, embodying layers of meaning that link past and present. Lisbon, thus emerges as a palimpsest, where architectural and literary patrimony intersect. The study investigates the interrelationship between architectural, urban, and literary heritage in Colina de Cristal. It shows how Baptista-Bastos reimagines Lisbon through its built environment and literary legacy, where both structures work together to create a rich, layered depiction of the city. Architecture and literature jointly shape the narrative, interweaving history and fiction. The hypothesis posits that Lisbon transcends its role as a mere backdrop, becoming a dynamic narrative entity. The city’s architectural and urban heritage, alongside its literary history, acts as a conduit for memory, reinterpreting both the real and the imagined. This fusion of architectural and literary patrimony reshapes perceptions of the city. An interdisciplinary approach combining literary analysis, urban studies, and memory theory is employed, mapping the city’s spaces and their connections to its architectural and literary heritage. Colina de Cristal, presents Lisbon as a space where architectural and literary heritage converge, with literature reimagining and preserving the city’s identity.