The history of the Portuguese Communist Party – PCP – can be explored from different perspectives. From the viewpoint of a communist militant, this study discusses some issues linked to the history of communism and its supporters’ political apprenticeship. Based on a series of conversations between a Portuguese communist and the author, historians of different generations, the article focuses on a life story, where autobiography, biography, episodes from the history of Socialism and the Communist Party are mixed and questioned.

Key-words:
Portuguese Communist Party, Estado Novo, biography, autobiography, Marxist consciousness, militant lives