Dragon's teeth : $b A novel from the Portuguese

Set against the sweltering July heat of late‑19th‑century Lisbon, the novel opens in a genteel home where the married couple Jorge and Luiza move through a lazy, sun‑drenched morning. Their conversations drift from the mundane to the subtle, hinting at hidden desires and the quiet tensions that underlie their seemingly comfortable life. The detailed descriptions of the period—cuckoo clocks, pearl‑buttoned gowns, and the muted hum of flies around sugar—draw listeners into a world where the ordinary is rendered richly atmospheric.

Beyond the domestic scene, a network of friends, relatives, and acquaintances begins to surface, each bringing their own ambitions, secrets, and social maneuverings. As rumors swirl and small betrayals surface, the characters are drawn into a series of confrontations that promise both humor and pathos. The narrative balances sharp social observation with the tender, sometimes uneasy, emotions of love and rivalry, offering an engaging portrait of Portuguese society on the brink of change.