the work of reliable earlier historians, Portuguese and foreign. If he fills in the gaps with pure romance or an uncritical use of texts (for instance, in _A Vida de Nun’ Alvares_ he incorporates as authentic those charming ‘letters of Nun’ Alvarez’ which a mere glance at their style shows to be apocryphal) these are but the poet’s arabesques, the main structure is often sound enough. Were there no other history of Portugal it might be necessary to consider his work not only fascinating but dangerous, nor would _Portugal Contemporaneo_ alone convey an impartial or complete idea of Portuguese history in the first two-thirds of the nineteenth century. We may deny him the title of great historian, we cannot deny him a foremost place in the literature of the century as a writer of brilliant intellect and feverish energy and a powerful re-constructor of characters and scenes in their picturesqueness and their passions. The work of MANUEL PINHEIRO CHAGAS (1842-95), poet, playwright, critic, novelist, historian, was even more abundant and for the most part of a more popular character and more commonplace. He is also more Portuguese, and his works deserve to be read if only for their pure and easily flowing style. Many of his novels are historical. _A Corte de D. João V_ (1867) has an account of an _outeiro_[681] in which figures the _Camões do Rocio_ as the poet Caetano José da Silva Souto-Maior (_c._ 1695-1739) was called. The subject of the earlier novel _Tristezas á beira-mar_ (1866) is that which Amorim in his _A Abnegação_ derived from an English novel, but is here more naturally treated. _A Mascara Velha_ (continued in _O Juramento da Duqueza_) appeared in 1873. _As Duas Flores de Sangue_ (1875) is concerned with revolution in France and at Naples. _A Flor Secca_ (1866) treats of more everyday scenes and contains some amusing if rather obvious character-sketches, as the old servant Maria do Rosario (a rustic Juliana), or the devout and vixenish old maid D. Antonia. His _Novelas Historicas_ (1869) contains six historical tales dealing with Afonso I, Nun’ Alvarez, Prince Henry the Navigator, King Sebastian, Pombal, and the French Revolution. His _Historia de Portugal_ (8 vols., 1867), begun on a plan originally laid down by Ferdinand Denis, contains lengthy and frequent quotations from previous historians but is coloured by later political ideas. The two shorter works _Historia alegre de Portugal_ (1880) and _Portugueses illustres_ (1869) are admirably suited for their purpose--to interest the people in the history and heroes of their country.