Writer Agustina Bessa-Luís passes away at 96, in the city where she choose to live in

Agustina Bessa-Luís passed away on 3 June 2019, in Porto. The acclaimed Portuguese writer and one of the greatest figures in Portuguese literature was born to a wealthy family on the 15 October 1922 in Vila Meã, Amarante.

She became famous with her novel "The Sybil", published in 1954, which won her the Delfim Guimarães and Eça de Queiroz prizes.

Her novels have been adapted for feature films by director Manoel de Oliveira, including Fanny Owen ("Francisca"), Abraham's Valley, and The Lands of Risk ("The Convent"), in addition to the Party.

Besides writing, Agustina devoted her time to other activities, namely, Director of the daily newspaper "O Primeiro de Janeiro" (Porto) and Director of the Teatro Nacional D. Maria II.

She was bestowed many honours during her long lasting career; Agustina was made a Grand Official of Portugal's Order of Sant'Iago da Espada in 1981, and promoted to holder of the Grand Cross in 2006. In 1989 she was made a Knight of France's Order of Arts and Letters. She was awarded the Camões Prize in 2004.

Agustina Bessa-Luís, one of the brightest Portuguese writers of her generation, has died at the age of 96, on 3 June 2019, in the city she chose to live in, in Porto, after a prolonged illness.

Her funeral is held today, starting at Sé Cathedral of Porto and concludes at the cemetery in Peso da Régua, where a private ceremony is to be held.

The Municipality of Porto declared a two-day mourning period.