The High Mountains of Portugal

The High Mountains of Portugal (2016) from the acclaimed author of Life of Pi, Yann Martel is a magical realist story that is divided into three parts rather than numerous chapters. Through these sections, Martel explores the concept of grief through characters that experience it physically as well as emotionally.

Set in Lisbon, Portugal in 1904, the first section of the novel, “Homeless,” follows Tomas, an academic researcher who is overcome with grief for his partner, his son, and his father, who have all recently passed away.

Experiencing life through Tomas’s eyes, the reader comes to understand the ways in which Tomas deals with his grief. First, by walking backward, Tomas revolts against what has happened to him, refusing to accept it. Second, he attempts to reconcile his grief by seeking out a religious artifact that requires him to travel to the High Mountains of Portugal. The artifact he seeks was created by his father, a missionary who spent most of his life stationed on an isolated island, helping the people who lived there.



Tomas undertakes this personal pilgrimage to recover his father’s artifact, wanting to retain something of meaning from his father. One of Tomas’s relatives gives him an old car to help him along his journey. At first, very emotional and overwhelmed by what he is about to do, Tomas is concerned about his driving skills and ability to maintain the vehicle.

As time goes on, he becomes more comfortable in the driver’s seat. He eventually arrives in the High Mountains, finding the artifact, a large crucifix, in the small town of Tuizelo. When Tomas first lays eyes on the artifact, he is shocked. He sees that his father has modeled Christ after a chimpanzee.

The second section of the novel, “Homeward,” is set in Portugal, in 1938. Eusebio Lozora, a pathologist, is working late, as is his habit. He receives a visit from his wife who brings him the latest Agatha Christie novel, which he loves. He also receives a visit from another woman, Maria Passos Castro.



Maria Castro has traveled all the way from the mountain town of Tuizelo to visit Eusebio. The purpose of her trip is to get him to perform an autopsy on her husband, Rafael, while she is present. Eusebio feels very unsure about it, but Maria opens up about the hardships her family has gone through, including the death of their very young son. After hearing about the woman’s loss, Eusebio, moved, agrees to perform the autopsy on Rafael.

As he opens up Rafael’s body, he immediately notices some very strange things, particularly a miniature chimpanzee that is occupying Rafael’s abdominal cavity. After he performs the autopsy, Eusebio watches as Maria climbs into her husband’s skin; he proceeds to sew her into his dead body.

After completing the procedure, Eusebio sits down to read his book, eventually nodding off. Eusebio’s assistant arrives, noticing that the autopsy has actually been performed on Eusebio’s wife, who has died. Eusebio wakes up and begins to weep; his assistant stays by his side and comforts him.



The third part of the narrative is called “Home.” This section begins in Canada in 1981. Peter, a politician, is grieving the death of his recently deceased wife. To his surprise, he discovers that he has made a strange connection with a chimpanzee at a research facility. He finds their interactions oddly comforting.

The chimpanzee is named Odo, and Peter can’t get it out of his mind. He decides to rescue Odo, leaving his old life behind to move to the small mountain town of Tuizelo, where Peter is originally from.

The journey to Tuizelo and the building of a new life together bring Odo and Peter’s relationship to a new level. Feeling a kinship with the animal, he finds their connection brings him a sense of peace and happiness that he has not experienced in a long time.



During a visit from his son, Peter comes to understand that his grandfather Rafael and his grandmother Maria emigrated from Tuizelo many years ago, and that the house that he and Odo occupy actually once belonged to his grandparents. Rafael and Maria’s son, who passed away under very mysterious circumstances, has come to be revered in the small town.

After taking in all of this information, Peter and Odo take a walk onto the plains of the High Mountains where they spot a rare rhinoceros that was thought to be extinct. Overwhelmed by the onslaught of information, the strenuous climb, and the sighting of the rhinoceros, Peter drops dead from a heart attack, Odo cradling him in his arms in his final moments.