
In a moonlit, snow‑kissed night of Christmas, the landscape drifts between dream and nightmare. A spectral Death rides a phantom horse across a white‑washed plateau, its sable cloak fluttering against the whispering pines. From this eerie tableau emerges a man on the brink of madness, drawn into a silent duel with the dark rider.
The story unfolds as a lyrical meditation on fear, destiny, and the thin line that separates sanity from the abyss. Through richly patterned prose, the narrator guides the listener through haunted forests, flickering shadows, and encounters with otherworldly beings that echo ancient myths. As the madman follows the ominous procession, each step reveals deeper questions about what it means to confront the inevitable. The haunting rhythm of the narrative invites listeners to linger in the twilight between reality and imagination.
Language
pt
Duration
~29 minutes (28K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
Porto: Edição da Renascença Portuguesa 1913
Credits
Produced by Vasco Salgado
Release date
2008-01-15
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1877–1952
A leading voice in early 20th-century Portuguese literature, he became closely associated with "saudosismo," a movement that turned longing and memory into a poetic vision of national and inner life. His work ranges from lyric poetry to reflective prose and biography, with a style known for its mystical, meditative tone.
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