The Far West of the East: Islam in the Poetry and Thought of Fernando Pessoa

The legacy of Islamic civilisation continues to shape Portuguese culture and identity.

Drawing on The Arab Sage: Writings on Arab-Islamic Civilisation (Shantarin, 2025), this seminar explores Fernando Pessoa’s engagement with Islam and Arab and Persian cultures through his poetry, fiction and philosophical writings, examining his reflections on the Islamic heritage of Portugal and its place in European cultural identity.

Speaker: Dr Fabrizio Boscaglia, Universidade Lusófona

Dr Fabrizio Boscaglia is Deputy Director of the Master’s programme in Science of Religions, Visiting Assistant Professor and researcher at Lusófona University in Lisbon. He holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Lisbon, specialising in Fernando Pessoa and Islam. His research focuses on Islam in Portuguese literature, thought and culture, Fernando Pessoa, and Sufism.

The event is organised by the Camões Centre for Portuguese Language and Culture at King's College London. Admission is free, and the event is open to everyone, including members of the public outside King’s.