
UM NOVO MUNDO
A wandering scholar arrives in Lyon, only to be drawn into an unexpected reunion with an old schoolmate whose reputation for misanthropy hides a startling secret. The friend, an extraordinary swimmer, claims he can linger beneath the waves for hours, defying ordinary limits. Their conversation spirals from nostalgia into a daring proposal to share an unbelievable story.
He invites the narrator to his modest home, promising to unveil a phenomenon that straddles science and imagination. Together they contemplate the vastness of the cosmos—celestial bodies moving in immutable laws, the countless stars that may cradle unknown worlds. The dialogue seamlessly weaves contemporary oceanic explorations, citing real 19th‑century expeditions that revealed blind fish thriving in perpetual darkness.
As the evening deepens, the friends exchange theories about what lies beneath Earth's surface and within the abyssal plains, hinting at secrets that humanity has barely glimpsed. Their exchange is both philosophical and scientific, encouraging listeners to question the limits of knowledge while savoring the romance of discovery. The narrative sets the stage for a journey that promises wonder without revealing how it will unfold.
Language
pt
Duration
~1 hours (59K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Pedro Saborano (produced from scanned images of public domain material from Google Book Search)
Release date
2010-03-09
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1821–1897
Born in England and later naturalized in Portugal, this Azorean writer moved easily between public life and literary work. His books range from poetry and historical writing to fiction, including a late-19th-century imaginative tale often noted for its adventurous, speculative flavor.
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