Delenda est Carthago!

The work bursts onto the scene with a fierce proclamation shouted in a Funchal youth academy on February 28 1909, then unfolds as a restless collage of verses, short stories, and prose interludes. Its pages tumble between classical allusions to Hannibal and Scipio and a modern plea for Portuguese renewal, all filtered through the fervor of early‑twentieth‑century Catholic youth. The author stitches together poetry, a prefatory letter, and a litany of moral warnings, creating a mosaic that feels both scholarly and impassioned.

In tone, the collection oscillates between the grand, almost theatrical rhetoric of ancient wars and the intimate, sometimes ironic reflections of a small island community. Readers will encounter vivid, chant‑like passages that urge vigilance against “societies criminales,” while also savoring lyrical fragments that celebrate resilience and the yearning for self‑governance. The result is an engaging, thought‑provoking entry point into a period of cultural awakening, inviting listeners to contemplate identity, duty, and the power of words.