Agustina Bessa-Luís was born in Vila Meã (Amarante) in 1922. Her father's family was from the north of Portugal and her mother was Spanish.
She started writing at the age of 16 and in 1950 she published her first novel, Mundo Fechado. In 1952 his talent was recognized with the Delfim de Guimarães award, for his book "Sibila", which also received the Eça de Queirós award the following year.
In 1958, she took her first steps in the theater, writing the play "O inseparável".
Between 1986 and 1987 she was director of the O Primeiro de Janeiro daily newspaper in Oporto. Between 1990 and 1993 she was director of the D.Maria II Theater in Lisbon and member of the High Authority for Social Communication.
Several of her works have been translated in several countries and some have been adapted to the cinema, such as Francisca, Vale Abraão and As Terras de Risco by Manoel de Oliveira. His novel As Fúrias was adapted for the theater by Filipe La Féria.
She has received several awards; at the age of 81, Agustina Bessa-Luís received the Camões Prize, considered the most important Portuguese award.
