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Teodorico Raposo, the novel's 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.
'Eca de Queiroz wrote in an elegant, clear prose. He was also a satirist with great eye for details who described in his novels the absurdities of the society around him, and living in Portugal he was never short of absurd things to make fun of. Here he attacks religion, greed, gullibility and hypocrisy, always with irony and humor, which makes The Relic a very light and enjoyable 'experience. -'
World Literature Forum
About the author
Jose Maria de Eça de Queiroz was born on 25th November 1845 in the small town of Povoa de Varzim in the north of Portugal. He studied law at Coimbra University before embarking in a career in the diplomatic service. Serving in Havana(1872-74), Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1874-79) Bristol(1879-88). and Paris 1888-1900). He died in 1900 at the age of only fifty-four.
Dedalus has made all his major works, ten titles, available in English in new translations by Margaret Jull Costa.
