António Cândido Franco, researcher at IHC and Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics and Literature (DLL) at the University of Évora, was honoured by this institution last week at a commemorative session marking his retirement.

Students, former students, professors and researchers participated, with testimonials given by João Freire (Iscte), Miguel Mochila (University of Évora), Hugo Estevão (University of Évora), and Sandra Fontinha (Université de Rennes), who recalled professional, academic and scientific interactions they had with the academic at various stages of their career.

At the opening session, Cláudia Teixeira, Director of the DLL, said that ‘this event is intended to celebrate the career and legacy of António Cândido Franco, author of an extensive and multifaceted body of work that includes essays, biographies, and literary creation.’ On Facebook, former student Sílvia Luís wrote that ‘his classes were living history, a journey through time conducted with enthusiasm, wisdom and rigour!’, wishing António Cândido Franco all the best.

António Cândido Franco graduated in Romance Philology, specialising in Literature, an area in which he completed his doctorate in 1997. In 2006, the University of Évora awarded him the “Aggregation” in Portuguese Culture. In 2015, together with other researchers from the now extinct Centre for the Study of the History and Philosophy of Science (CEHFCi), he joined the IHC. He has devoted himself to the study of Portuguese literature, with a special focus on the work of Teixeira de Pascoaes and the intersections between literature, history, and culture. In 2024, he received the Miguel Torga Biographical Literature Grand Prize for his book ‘O Firmamento é Negro e Não Azul – A vida de Luiz Pacheco’ (The Firmament is Black and Not Blue – The Life of Luiz Pacheco).

Photo credits: University of Évora