Anathema: Romance Original...

by Castelo Branco Camilo 1825-1890 (creator)

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Genres: Classics, Portuguese Literature, Portugal

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1851

Reviews

[Luís · Rating 4 out of 5]

The serialized nature of this novel is evident, with a psychological atmosphere dominated by romantic misfortunes, cruel fates, terrible revenges, and deadly remorse, just as Jacinto de Prado Coelho has described it. The wild nature of the narrative lends credence to this serialized tone. However, as we shall see later, Camilo struggles to fill the void left by the Portuguese readership's preference for genres in which English or French authors have had more success. Camilo Castelo Branco achieves a blend of sentimental and Gothic literature. To a certain extent, our author is updating, to Portuguese taste, a trend in the English horror novel, along with the French serialized novel. A common stance in his texts (which brings him closer to the serialized narrative) is that Happiness becomes a uselessly attainable good, so that punishment prevails as an almost inevitable element.

Read on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the author's birth, on March 16, 1825.

[Rosa Ramôa · Rating 4 out of 5]

*****
O Amor Indómito

Há casos de alucinação, extasis incendiados de fantasia, em que o homem subjuga ao seu transporte as férreas considerações sociais, fazendo-as reflexivas de todo o brilho da sua alegria. É por isso que as grandes paixões estão em divórcio com o juízo prudencial. No mar da vida o fanal do amor é o que mais resplende. Cegam-se os olhos e entendimento ao que mais ansiosamente o fita. Com a mente fixa nesse clarão esperançoso, que tão frouxas résteas de luz nos dá em paga de tremendos trabalhos, transcuram-se vagas e baixios que nos assaltam o pobre baixel. O amor indómito, fremente e tempestuoso é um naufrágio que se ama, uma dor com que se brinca, e, enfim, um delírio honroso em qualquer criatura".