Miguel Correia, a teacher and writer from Lordelo, in Paredes, has just released "O Menino Marceneiro" (The Carpenter Boy), a book inspired by the memories of his own father. The main character, Francisco Barbosa, goes through some of the most significant periods of Portuguese history in the 20th century, from his poor childhood in Ribeira do Moinho in the 1950s to old age.
Francisco grows up in a difficult family context, raised by his grandfather after his brother's death, while his mother provides for the family as a cart driver. At school, he suffers episodes of violence at the hands of teacher Caetano and, although he manages to pass his exams, he does not have the financial means to continue his studies. It is in this context that he learns the carpentry trade, a profession that陪伴他大半生.
The work also follows Francisco's time in the military during the Colonial War and the decisive moments of the April 25th Revolution, when he refuses to fire during the Carnation Revolution, in an episode that symbolizes his convictions and the transformation the country was undergoing. Later, he marries Leonor and has a son, João, who fulfills the dream denied to his father: to study and become a teacher.
Miguel Correia, who worked as a carpenter before dedicating himself to teaching, is currently a philosophy teacher at the Secondary School of Odemira. He previously published "A Rapariga e o Pastor do Crato" (The Girl and the Shepherd from Crato) in 2025 and has "O Chocalho e as Plumas" (The Bell and the Feathers) forthcoming. With "O Menino Marceneiro", the author returns to family memories to construct the story of a character who sees in his son the greatest achievement of his life.
