Margaret Costa’s exquisite novel All the Names is an allegory of love and loss, of endings and beginnings, and of the search for meaning and belonging. It is a magical realist journey of introspection, told tenderly and eloquently through the myriad characters that converge throughout the course of the novel.
The novel centers on the story of young Irene, a teenager living in a small rural village in Portugal who has recently come of age. As she forms her own identity and begins to look towards the future, she becomes fascinated by the stories of the villagers around her—especially the stories of old man José, a man of many stories, many secrets and many names.
With every story about José, Irene becomes more curious about his life and his experiences—and eventually she discovers that each story is connected to the name he carries: Acácio Pereira. Eventually she discovers Acácio’s past spanning the years from 1932 to 1968 and uncovers a complex family history involving a distant grandmother, a long-lost relative, and a mysterious father. Through it all, Irene slowly realizes that her life and identity are closely bound to the past of another—and she creates her own journey of self-discovery and growth as a result.
Throughout All the Names, Margaret Costa weaves together a tapestry of village life and the lives of a cross-generational cast of characters. From the vibrant life of the town and its hidden secrets to the muted dreams of the people of Aricanduva, each chapter carries with it a poetical exploration of family, loyalty and identity. With every story, Irene learns something about the world and about herself, and the reader experiences a unique and vivid portrayal of Portuguese life.
Margaret Costa’s All the Names is a remarkably beautiful novel and one that will surely entrance and inspire its readers. The exquisite prose and vivid characters carry readers down a winding, emotional journey that leads to a place of truth and understanding. It is a book that will be read and re-read, not just for its artistic and imaginative writing but also for its timeless exploration of truth and identity.
