The Cave (novel)

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Title The Cave

2003 Harvest paperback edition cover
Author José Saramago
Original title A Caverna
Country Portugal
Language Portuguese
Genre(s) Novel
Publisher The Harvill Press
Released 2001 (Portuguese)
2002 (English)
Media type Print (Hardcover)
Pages 320 pp
ISBN ISBN 0-15-602879-4

The Cave (Portuguese: A Caverna) is a novel by Portuguese author José Saramago. It was published in Portuguese in 2001, and English in 2002.

[edit] Plot introduction

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The story concerns an elderly potter named Cipriano Algor, his daughter Marta, and his son-in-law Marcal. One day, the Center, literally the center of commerce in the story, cancels its order for Cipriano's pottery, leaving the elderly potter's future in doubt. He and Marta decide to try their hand at making clay figurines and astonishingly the Center places an order for hundreds. But just as quickly, the order is cancelled and Cipriano, his daughter, and his son-in-law have no choice but to move to the Center where Marcal works as a security guard. Before long, the mysterious sound of digging can be heard beneath the Center, and what the family discovers will change their lives forever.