Torcato Sepúlveda

Who was Torcato Sepúlveda?

Torcato Sepúlveda was a Portuguese newspaper journalist. His full name was João Torcato Sepúlveda de Macedo. He was known for his book reviews and cultural journalism for several Portuguese newspapers. Sepúlveda was the first cultural editor of the Público, well regarded national daily newspaper.

Sepúlveda was born in 1951 in Braga, Portugal, to parents who were elementary school teachers. He received his degree in Romance philology from the University of Coimbra, where he participated in the students demonstrations against António de Oliveira Salazar. For his part in the demonstrations, Sepúlveda lived in exile in Brussels, Belgium, from 1971 until 1974. He did not return to Portugal until April 25, 1974, which coincided with the start of the Carnation Revolution.

Once he returned to Portugal, Sepúlveda began working at the copy desk of the Expresso, weekly publication. He began writing weekly book reviews for the Expresso, which he signed using a shortened version of his name, John Macedo. Sepúlveda also wrote under the pseudonyms of Buíça, Silva of Viseu and D. Luis da Cunha during his career.