
The story opens with a sweeping meditation on the forces that have shaped human destiny—philosophers, climate, chance—before turning its gaze to the fragile world of monarchs. In a time when crowns once symbolized divine authority, the narrative follows a royal family caught between ancient reverence and the looming threat of revolution. Their daily rituals are tinged with melancholy, as the king and queen sense the inevitable exile that will soon uproot their lives.
Through intimate scenes of courtly life and quiet contemplation, the novel explores how power can become both a burden and a prison. The protagonists—particularly a young prince haunted by memories of a lost homeland—must confront the paradox of loving freely while being bound to duty. Their personal struggles echo the larger upheavals reshaping Europe, offering a poignant portrait of a fading dynasty on the brink of transformation.
Language
pt
Duration
~1 hours (78K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2010-12-26
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1849–1925
A prolific Portuguese man of letters, he moved easily between poetry, novels, theater, biography, and political writing. His long career also included journalism, helping make him a familiar literary voice from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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