The RelicTeodorico Raposo, the novel's lascivious anti-hero is a master of deceit; one minute feigning devotion in front of his rich, pious aunt, in order to inherit her money, the next indulging in debauchery. Spurred on by the desire to please his aunt, and in order to get away from his unfaithful mistress, he embarks on a journey to the Holy Land in search of a holy relic. The resulting fiasco is a masterpiece of comic irony as religious bigotry and personal greed are mercilessly ridiculed. |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - DieFledermaus - LibraryThingThis books started out as an amusing portrait of a religious hypocrite, but then ran into some problems. There was an extended dream sequence where the narrator finds himself in Jerusalem during the ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - Miguelnunonave - LibraryThingA funny little book by one of Portugal's greatest 19th century writers. One of his least-known, though it's a gem. Very good satire about a hypocritical nephew and his over-religious fanatic old aunt ... Read full review
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Adelia Alpedrinha altar amongst arms aunt aunt's Auntie beard beneath blue breast burnous Campo de Santana chapel Christ church cloak corner courtyard cried Crispim cross crown of thorns dark devout divine Dona Patrocinio door Dr Margaride dressed eyes face Father Casimiro Father Negrao Father Pinheiro feet flagstones flowers Galilee Gamaliel gleamed glittering Godinho gold golden hair hands head heart Heaven Herod Herod Antipas holy hung Jerusalem Jesus Joseph of Arimathea Judaea Justino kiss Lady land leaves light Lisbon looked Lord marble Margaret Jull Costa Maricoquinhas Mount of Olives murmured night nightdress pale Passover perfume pith helmet Pontius Potte Praetor prayer priests Rabbi Raposo relic Roman rose Sanhedrin Senhor Senhora Dona shouted sigh silent slowly smell smiling soul stones stood sweet Temple Teodorico tomb Topsius trees trembling tunic velarium Vicencia voice walking wall wearing woman wrapped