Alfredo Cortez by Sebastiana Fadda

The second volume of the “Biographies of Portuguese Theatre” collection is dedicated to Alfredo Cortez (1880-1946), known above all as the author of Zilda, an emblematic play which, due to its subject matter, caused such a stir in Lisbon society in the 1920s. This was the beginning of his dramatic production, which encompasses diverse aesthetics and deserves to be revisited, not only for its importance at the time, but also for what it reveals of his talent as a playwright.

Sebastiana Fadda, the author of this biography, guides us through Cortez's dramaturgy, contextualizing each of his texts and their reception on stage. From an innovative perspective, other facets are revealed, such as translator, scriptwriter and even businessman, activities he developed alongside writing. By analyzing the documents in the collection held by the National Library of Portugal and accessing unpublished documents kindly made available by the family, this work presents an original investigation that takes a look at the biographer, involved in the men and events of his time.