- He was the first Portuguese writer to have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998.
- His father's last name was de Sousa, whose nickname was Saramago, the name of a wild plant. This nickname was mistakenly entered on José's birth certificate.
- His first novel was published when he was 23. He essentially stopped writing for 30 years, during which time he worked at a garage, a welfare agency, and a printing company, among other jobs.
- He was raised mostly by his rural grandparents, while his parents looked for work in Lisbon. He credited his illiterate grandparents with instilling in him a love of folklore and fantasy, and respect for nature.
- Son of José de Sousa and wife Maria da Piedade. Brother of Francisco de Sousa.
- His wife Pilar is a Spanish journalist.
- Has a daughter with Ilda named Violante dos Reis Saramago (b.1947).
- Has two grandchildren named Ana and Tiago.
- Commander of the Ancient, Most Noble and Enlightened Military Order of Saint James of the Sword, of the Scientific, Literary and Artistic Merit (24 August 1985), Grand-Collar of the Ancient, Most Noble and Enlightened Military Order of Saint James of the Sword, of the Scientific, Literary and Artistic Merit (3 December 1998).
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