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. |
Common terms and phrases
Adélia 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 Patrocínio door Dr Margaride dressed Eça Eça de Queiroz eyes face Father Casimiro Father Negrão Father Pinheiro feet flagstones flowers Galilee Gamaliel gleamed glittering Godinho gold golden hair hands heart Heaven Herod Herod Antipas holy hung Jerusalem Jesus Joseph of Arimathea Judaea Justino kiss Lady land light lips Lisbon looked Lord marble Margaret Jull Costa Maricoquinhas Mário de Sá-Carneiro murmured night nightdress pale Passover perfume pith helmet Pontius Potte Praetor prayer priests Rabbi Raposo relic Roman rose Sanhedrin Senhor shouted sigh silent slowly smiling soul stones stood sweet Temple Teodorico tomb Topsius trees trembling tunic velarium Vicência voice walking wall wearing woman wrapped