A review by blueyorkie
O Monge de Cistér ou A Época de D. João I - Tomo II by Alexandre Herculano

3.0

With his three historical novels - Eurico, O Presbítero; O Monge de Cister and O Bobo - Herculano intended to reconstruct the history of Portugal, from the struggles to reconquer the territory to the invading Arabs, until the end of the Middle Ages, and to the formation of the Portuguese State. This novel's action takes place at the end of the 14th century (1385) and its protagonist, Vasco da Silva, gnawed with jealousy, wants to kill Lopo Mendes For having married Leonor, the woman he loved. And he also wanted to avenge his father, who been offended by a knight, Fernando Afonso, who again abused his sister Beatriz. Sincerely sorry for having ended Lopo Mendes' life, Vasco decides to become a priest while his seducer abandons his sister. To encourage Vasco's hatred, D. João de Ornelas, the abbot of Alcobaça, tells him that he seduced his sister Beatriz, Fernando Afonso was also the lover of D. Leonor, the woman he never he had stopped loving. Beatriz dies, and Vasco reveals to King D. João I the dark and evil past of Fernando Afonso, who therefore condemned to die at stake. Finally, Vasco also dies.