The Double
by José Saramago, Margaret Jull Costa
The Double by José Saramago, Margaret Jull Costa holds a well received rating of 3.84 out of 5, based on 6.4K reader ratings. First published in 2002. The book spans 324 pages.
About The Double
Tertuliano Maximo Afonso is a history teacher in a secondary school. He is divorced, involved in a rather one-sided relationship with a bank clerk, and he is depressed. To lift his depression, a colleague suggests he rent a certain video. Tertuliano watches the film and is unimpressed. During the night, noises in his apartment wake him. He goes into the living room to find that the VCR is replaying the video, and as he watches in astonishment, he sees an actor who looks exactly like him - or, more specifically, exactly like the man he was five years before, moustachioed and fuller in the face. He sleeps badly.Against his own better judgement, Tertuliano decides to pursue his double. As he establishes the man's identity, what begins as a whimsical story becomes a dark meditation on identity and, perhaps, on the crass assumptions behind cloning - that we are merely our outward appearance rather than the sum of our experiences.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | José Saramago, Margaret Jull Costa |
| Published | 2002 |
| Pages | 324 |
| Genres | Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Classics |
| Average Rating | 3.84 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 6,430 |
Reader Ratings & Analysis
Rating Overview
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is The Double?
The Double is categorized as Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Classics. Its primary genre classification is Fantasy.
Is The Double worth reading?
Based on 6.4K reader ratings, The Double has an average score of 3.84 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received."
How many pages is The Double?
The Double has 324 pages.
Who wrote The Double?
The Double was written by José Saramago, Margaret Jull Costa. It was first published in 2002.
What is the ISBN for The Double?
The ISBN-13 for The Double is 9780151010400.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 14, 2026
