D. Beltrão de Figueirôa. Comédia ingénua, ao gosto do século XVII.

Lisbon, Tavares Cardoso & Irmão, 1902.. First Edition. 8°, original printed wrappers (soiled, small tears). Blank corner torn off one leaf. Overall in good condition. 51 pp., (1 l. advt.). *** FIRST EDITION. According to a note on the half title, this play, set in the seventeenth century, was performed for the first time at the Theatro D. Amelia on 31 May 1902. There is a cast list on p. [7]. The work appeared again in 1915?, 1916, 1920, 1922, 1925? and 1930. It was translated into Italian, German and Catalan. Dantas (1876-1962) is one of the best known early twentieth-century Portuguese writers. His major work, Ceia do cardeaes, went through 48 editions from 1902 to 1962, with translations into French, Spanish, Catalan, Italian, English, German, Swedish, Danish and Japanese. Its influence may also be judged by the fact that Campos Ferreira Lima lists no fewer than 49 parodies. Trained as an army surgeon, Dantas later became Inspector das Bibliotecas Eruditas e Arquivos (1912) and president of the Academia das Ciências (1921).*** Fonseca, Aditamentos p. 260-1. Saraiva & Lopes, História da literatura portuguesa (1976) pp. 1045-46. Bell, Portuguese Literature p. 313: "the most conspicuous among slightly younger dramatists … gifted with wit, lightness of touch, an excellent style, and a sense of atmosphere." NUC: WU, NIC, NcU, MiU.