My rating:

add to my books

The Maias

by Eça de Queiroz

4.03 · rating details · 1,957 ratings · 84 reviews

In this simple tale, the novel's hero is the talented heir to a notable family in Lisbon. He aspires to serve his fellow man in his chosen profession of medicine, in the arts, and in politics. But he enters a society affected by powerful international influencesthat trouble and frustrate him. In the end he is reduced to a kind of spiritual helplessness and his good intenti...more

Paperback, 634 pages

Published April 1st 2003 by Carcanet Press Ltd. (first published 1888)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 2,469)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

May 19, 2009

Harry Rutherford rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: around-the-world, europe

The Maias, by Eça de Queiroz/de Queirós, is a proper doorstop of a C19th novel, over 700 pages long. It’s late C19th, though, 1888. I was trying to think of apt comparisons, and none of them seemed exactly right, but it’s much more George Eliot or Tolstoy than Dickens. Or even early C20th novelists like Forster or Proust. Though the Proust comparison is not so much to do with style as subject matter: the romantic entanglements of wealthy, mildly bohemian society types.

Among the theme...moreThe Maias, by Eça de Queiroz/de Queirós, is a proper doorstop of a C19th novel, over 700 pages long. It’s late C19th, though, 1888. I was trying to think of apt comparisons, and none of them seemed exactly right, but it’s much more George Eliot or Tolstoy than Dickens. Or even early C20th novelists like Forster or Proust. Though the Proust comparison is not so much to do with style as subject matter: the romantic entanglements of wealthy, mildly bohemian society types.

Among the themes running through the book, the one I found most interesting was the question of Portugal’s place in the world, which is seen in terms of tradition vs. modernity but also Portugal’s cultural relationship with other European powers: there’s a real sense of a smallish country on the edge of Europe looking towards London and Paris with a hint of an inferiority complex. So the characters swing between claiming unique virtues for Portugal and admiring, for example, a dress that could only have come from Paris. Every discussion, of literature or an event or whatever, turns to comparisons with other countries; the yardstick for quality is an external one. It’s oddly like reading post-colonial fiction, even though Portugal was in fact colonist rather than colonised.

I think what I liked most about the book was the leisurely pace of it. Events at which nothing much happens — or at least nothing which is essential to advancing the plot —are allowed to spread over five or ten pages. There’s a 30-page description of them going to the races which is a big set piece within the book, full of social observation, incident and humour, but none of it is actually crucial to the plot. On another occasion, in another mood, I might have just been bored by it; but this time I enjoyed that expansiveness.

In Lisbon, from the Grémio to the Casa Havanesa, there was already talk of ‘Ega’s mistress’. He, for his part, was trying very hard to keep his happiness safe from prying eyes. While perfectly serious about the complicated precautions this entailed, he also took a romantic delight in mystery, and so always chose the most out-of-the-way places, on the outskirts of the city, in the area near the slaughterhouse, for his furtive meetings with the maid who brought him Raquel’s letters. But his every gesture (event he affected way he had of pretending not to look at the clock) revealed the enormous pride he felt in that elegant adultery. He was perfectly aware that his friends knew all about this glorious adventure of his, and were au fait with the whole drama, and this was perhaps why, when in the company of Carlos or the others, he never even mentioned her name or betrayed the slightest flicker of emotion.

One night, however, a night lit by a calm white moon, as he and Carlos were walking along together in silence on their way to Ramalhete, Ega, doubtless filled by a sudden inrush of passion, uttered a heartfelt sigh, reached out his arms and declared to the moon in a tremulous voice:

Oh, laisse-toi donc aimer, oh, l’amour c’est la vie!

This escaped his lips like the beginning of a confession. Carlos, at his side, said nothing, and simply blew his cigar smoke out into the air.

Ega clearly felt somewhat ridiculous, because he immediately recovered himself and pretended a mere literary interest.

‘They can say what they want, but there’s no one like old Hugo.’

Carlos still said nothing, but he recalled Ega’s Naturalist outbursts, in which he had inveighed against Victor Hugo, calling him a ’spiritualist blabbermouth’, ‘an imitative yokel’, ‘a lyrical old fool’ and worse.

But that night, Ega, the great phrase-maker, went on:

‘Ah yes, old Hugo, the heroic champion of the eternal truths. We need a bit of idealism, damn it, because the ideal might one day become reality.’

And with this formal recantation he shattered the silence of the streets.

A quick name-check for Margaret Jull Costa, who translated this edition, and has done a good job of it, as far as I can tell without knowing any Portuguese.(less)

like 1 like

· see review

Oct 08, 2011

Célia rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, e-book, 5-stars

Releitura

Decidi reler este livro porque sempre achei que a leitura obrigatória quando tinha 17 anos não me permitiu apreciar a obra em toda a sua plenitude. A minha pouca maturidade literária fez com que muitas referências sociais e culturais me passassem ao lado e ficou sempre a sensação que também não apreciei devidamente a escrita. Há algum tempo que queria fazer esta releitura, calhou agora.

"Os Maias" é um dos livros mais famosos da literatura portuguesa, amado ...moreReleitura

Decidi reler este livro porque sempre achei que a leitura obrigatória quando tinha 17 anos não me permitiu apreciar a obra em toda a sua plenitude. A minha pouca maturidade literária fez com que muitas referências sociais e culturais me passassem ao lado e ficou sempre a sensação que também não apreciei devidamente a escrita. Há algum tempo que queria fazer esta releitura, calhou agora.

"Os Maias" é um dos livros mais famosos da literatura portuguesa, amado por uns, odiado por outros (especialmente por ser leitura escolar obrigatória), que já foi alvo de inúmeras adaptações ao cinema, teatro e televisão, entre outros. Quase toda a gente conhece a história da família Maia, no Portugal de finais do século XIX, que culmina no amor trágico de Carlos Eduardo e Maria Eduarda.

Sendo o drama familiar e humano o enredo central, a contextualização e os enredos secundários dão vida e cor a este livro tão representativo daquilo que é ser português. Apesar de ser um cliché quando se fala da obra de Eça de Queiroz, não posso deixar de referir que, mesmo tendo em conta a evolução de quase século e meio, são incríveis as semelhanças de vícios e atitudes, em especial no que respeita à política, mas também na relação de Portugal com o estrangeiro.

O livro é marcado pelo Romantismo, muitas vezes claramente contraposto ao Racionalismo, que desponta nas artes e nas relações pessoais que compõem a história. Eça tem um estilo de escrita muito particular, com longas e elaboradas descrições, mas que, nesta releitura, pude apreciar com mais atenção também porque não estava tão emocionalmente envolvida com o enredo principal. Há passagens verdadeiramente deliciosas, que apetece ler e reler. Muita gente fala da descrição inicial do Ramalhete ou da longa secção das corridas de cavalos, mas penso que se formos para a leitura com o espírito certo estas partes acabam por ser mesmo das mais interessantes.

Este é um livro fantástico e sinto-me contente por ter decidido relê-lo neste momento, porque pude finalmente apreciá-lo em todo o seu esplendor. Altamente recomendado a nível de enredo, de escrita e de retrato social.(less)

like 1 like

· see review

Mar 17, 2010

Adriano Godinho rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: portuguese, 19th-century, europe, contemporary-classics

Não pensava que iria gostar tanto deste livro.
Fala-se tanto, é tão conhecido que sempre deixei de lado a leitura completa desta obra porque involuntariamente pensava que nada me poderia espantar nesta história.
Como eu me enganei...
Adorei a Lisboa desta época, as personagens, a história. Apaixonei-me gravemente por Carlos, Maria, Ega, Afonso e tantos outros... As descrições tão criticadas pelos alunos que estudam esta obra, são despropositadas pois são a essência da obra: o br...more

like 3 likes

· see review

Aug 16, 2011

Liliara rated it

· review of another edition

I had to read this book for school and... well... the story is well conceived. A romance between brothers, the typical forbidden love...

The story begins with the grandfather Afonso da Maia when he is still young, then we have a glimpse of the life of his only child Pedro da Maia and after his story we began our "real story" with the main protagonist, Carlos da Maia.

I'm not going to tell you the whole story, but with this book we have a clear image of Lisbon and his ...more

· see review

Aug 08, 2010

Donna Jo Atwood rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2010-summer-challenge, fiction, portugal-fiction

It's hard to say exactly what this book is about--it is sort of a 19th century equivilent of a buddy story--two friends, wealthy young Portuguese, drift through life falling in and out of amours and strolling through life.
But the story telling is delicious. It reminds me of Victor Hugo (who died just a few years before this book was first published) or of some of Tolstoy. The story waltzes along gently and suddenly takes a whimsical turn with a side of rollicking, falling back into the...more

· see review

Apr 27, 2011

Mariana rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

HELL YEAHHH I FINISHED IT <3

Well, 1st of all 90... 95% of the persons (maybe 100%) who don't like maias don't have the vocabulary/maturity/education to understand it. I'm not saying they're dumb. Maybe they've tried to read it too soon or maybe they need more culture to understand it.

Being Portuguese_____________________________________
Being a portuguese student this book is part of my school program of portuguese for the 11th grade. Most of my classmates hate this bo...more

· see review

Jan 31, 2011

Renata rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, romance

Terminei o livro e fiquei triste. Quem poderia prever?

O livro foi escrito de uma forma que não era para ter fim e sim continuar eternamente a descrever os fatos cotidianos da vida diletante dos fidalgos de Lisboa. O enredo, a trágica estória dos Maias, muitas vezes não passa de pano de fundo para se descrever hábitos e costumes, a criticar uma sociedade que se mostra prostrada, observando e admirando as outras culturas européias, perdida em sua tentativa de se equiparar a França (em...more

· see review

Jun 11, 2009

Marian rated it

· review of another edition

I wrote this when I had given up:

"I have to admit that I can't get into this book. I love Costas's translation--I've never read one of hers I didn't--but life is too short to be bored for so long. If you've read a few hundred novels in your life, you know more or less where this one is going, and the stereotypes suck all the air out of the room. I'm putting this back in my to-read queue. One day I may have the courage to delete it altogether."

But recently I ...more

· see review

Sep 02, 2008

Núria rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: diletantes, ociosos

Shelves: 2008, 5-favoritos, literatura-portuguesa, mios, decimononicos

'Los Maia' es una gran novela que acaba de una manera perfecta. Es uno de los mejores finales de toda la historia de la literatura. Después que la trama ya se ha resuelto en el penúltimo capítulo, el último capítulo es un epílogo en el que Carlos da Maia vuelve a Lisboa, diez años después de haberse marchado. Él y su amigo Joao da Ega recorren las calles y se encuentran viejas y nuevas caras: todo ha cambiado pero todo sigue igual. Los dos son y sobre todo se sienten más viejos. Conversan sobre ...more'Los Maia' es una gran novela que acaba de una manera perfecta. Es uno de los mejores finales de toda la historia de la literatura. Después que la trama ya se ha resuelto en el penúltimo capítulo, el último capítulo es un epílogo en el que Carlos da Maia vuelve a Lisboa, diez años después de haberse marchado. Él y su amigo Joao da Ega recorren las calles y se encuentran viejas y nuevas caras: todo ha cambiado pero todo sigue igual. Los dos son y sobre todo se sienten más viejos. Conversan sobre como todo en la vida es fútil. Los dos querían hacer grandes cosas, cambiar el mundo incluso, pero confiesan que han fracasado. Sin embargo, todo el mundo fracasa. Concuerdan en que todo esfuerzo es inútil. No vale la pena correr detrás de nada: ni del amor, ni de la gloria, ni del dinero, ni del poder... Se dan cuenta de que llegan tarde a una cena con unos antiguos amigos. Ven pasar un tranvía y se dicen que aún están a tiempo de cogerlo. Así que empiezan a correr detrás del tranvía para atraparlo. Perfecto.

Sin embargo, al principio me costó engancharme. Eça de Queirós es un escritor al que quiero, pero me desconcierta. Me desconcierta porque a veces escribe grandes novelas modernas, irónicas, lúcidas e inteligentes, y otras veces escribe bodrios tópicos, conservadores y aburridos. Pero a pesar de que odie alguna de sus obras, a él lo quiero. Con 'Los Maia' al principio me costó tanto engancharme que creía que tendría que clasificar el libro dentro del apartado "obras aborrecibles de Eça de Queirós". Creo que el problema es que a la novela le cuesta arrancar. Alarga demasiado el planteamiento. La historia del abuelo y el padre de Carlos da Maia se hace eterna, cuando en realidad estas historias sólo son el prólogo del libro, porque el verdadero protagonista es Carlos. Pero luego por fin la novela se centra en Carlos y por fin sucede, te enganchas y resulta que es una novela magnífica.

Carlos ha estudiado medicina y tiene grandes planes para su futuro: quiere tener una consulta llena de pacientes, un laboratorio en el que hacer progresar la ciencia y escribir importantes obras sobre medicina. Al final, lo único que acaba haciendo es coleccionar antigüedades y asistir a veladas en las que se critica la situación de Portugal y se discute lo que es chic. A sus amigos les pasa lo mismo. Todos los personajes jóvenes consideran que Portugal es un país atrasado, provinciano y conservador, lleno de cobardes pusilánimes, materialistas y superficiales, pero no hacen nada para intentar cambiarlo. Carlos va malgastando los días sin hacer nada y tú te preguntas cuándo va a empezar la historia de amor adúltero. Al fin y al cabo se trata de una novela del siglo XIX. Tarda pero al final empieza. Está bien pero no es nada excepcional. Sigues prefiriendo las escenas en las que los amigos se reúnen para charlar y jugar al whist. Luego hay un giro genial que parece que lo va a poner todo patas arriba. Pero resulta que es una falsa alarma. Sin embargo, intuyes que aunque por ahora la historia de amor tiene un final feliz, éste final feliz no va a ser definitivo. Y efectivamente llega el giro final. Y es magnífico. Como una revelación. Como una epifanía. Lo cambia todo. Y precipita el final, por más que Carlos con su eterna incapacidad de tomar decisiones lo vaya posponiendo de forma agónica. Es genial.

Pero esta novela no es sólo la historia de Carlos. Es una novela que crea todo un mundo. Es una novela sobre una época, una sociedad y un país. Es una novela como las que ya no se escriben. Habla de diletantismo, ociosidad y futilidad. Y aún así es una obra que te transmite ganas de vivir. Como la mejor literatura. Es una obra que habla de romanticismo y realismo, idealismo y pesimismo. Es una mirada crítica a todos los jóvenes que quieren hacer grandes cosas pero a la hora de la verdad no hacen nada. Pero no se trata de una ironía amarga. Es una ironía llena de ternura. Probablemente porque Eça de Queirós sentía que era como todos estos jóvenes que critican mucho pero no hacen nada. Es una obra muy divertida. Creo que algo que distingue Eça de Queirós de los otros novelistas del XIX es el uso (y abuso) de los signos de exclamación y un sentido del humor muy personal, a veces directo y otras veces sutil. Es una novela perfectamente escrita. Y muy divertida.

Y hay una colección de personaje secundarios impagable. Está Cruges, el músico que no compone música, tímido e introvertido, aquejado de spleen. Está Craft, el coleccionista inglés pragmático, que ya está de vuelta de todo y se lo mira todo desde la distancia. Está Damaso, el ridículo adulador que idolatra a Carlos y lo imita en todo. Pero sobre todo está Joao da Ega. Oh, Ega es uno de aquellos personajes tan bien escritos que saben ganarse un lugar para siempre en tu corazón. Ega es un escritor que no escribe, un exaltado, un histriónico, un teatrero, un provocador nato algo mefistofélico, pero de buena pasta. Es inteligente e ingenioso. Y divertidísimo. Tiene las mejores líneas de toda la novela. Pero también tiene sus dudas, sus inseguridades, su timidez, su parte de cobardía. También tiene su historia de amor, que también termina mal, y constantes problemas de dinero. Y es tan amigo de Carlos. Me encanta que esta obra dedique tantos esfuerzos a narrar la historia de amor como a narrar la historia de amistad entre estos dos personajes. Me encantan las escenas en las que se confiesan el uno al otro. Me encantan las escenas en las que se apoyan el uno al otro. Me encanta que si hay algo inamovible en esta novela sea la amistad entre Carlos y Ega. Para mí es una novela sobre la amistad. Para mí es una novela llena de vida. Como las que ya no se escriben.
(less)

like 1 like

· see review

Feb 07, 2008

Mariana rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Anyone who likes social criticism in particular, and a great, wit-filled story in general.

Shelves: read-me-senseless-books, classics, novel, portuguese

Welcome to Portuguese 19th century society! Sit back and enjoy a throughly well written, critical, satirical, humoristic and surprisingly actual view of its virtues and flaws, its characters and habits, its morals and ideas - all by the hand (or should I say pen?) of the most extraordinary of Portuguese novelists and Realistic writers.

The Maias tells the story of a family - from Afonso da Maia (the great patriarch) to his son Pedro (who loves greatly and tragically) to Pedro's son, C...more

· see review

Jan 11, 2008

Naciulinda rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: anyone and everyone age 14 and up.

Shelves: alltimefavorites

In Portugal. where I went to high school, this is required reading. It's a classic and a wonderful reflection of Portuguese "high" society at the time, and the critique in a lighthearted and at times humorous way. Although the author also "rubbed elbows" would the upper class, he used his experiences to narrate (changing the names) what he saw and lived, and when published, many were offended and upset as they read their lives being made a mockery of and secrets divulged. in ...more

· see review

Feb 09, 2010

Steve rated it

This novel is an account of nineteenth century Portuguese society’s attempts to balance its traditions with the cultural influences form the rest of the continent which are ever more holding sway over the country’s elite. The story centres on an heir to a respectable Lisbon family who has to navigate himself through the social mores and morality of the capital’s higher echelons whilst defending the family honour. Great social commentary but little substance in terms of plot.

· see review

Jul 29, 2010

Dalton Campos rated it

· review of another edition

Me lembro de ter visti a mini série que a Globo fez desta obra e ter adorado cada minuto. Mas a obra escrita, pareceu perder a graça por ter seu segredo revelado na tela. Por isso evitei le-la de lá para cá.

Sei lá eu porque resolvi este ano ler Os Maias. Embora eu soubesse como seria o desenlace, foi a trama que me apaixonou e é por ela que recomendo a leitura.

Afonso da Maia, meu personagem favorito, com sua sabedoria e cachimbo, com sua admiração pelos ingleses, com seu...more

· see review

Aug 11, 2010

Kristin rated it

· review of another edition

This is a beautiful book. I can't really even consider writing a solid review of it because I did not get to give it the time it deserves. The Maias and I got together during a very busy time. But, I am committing now to reading and enjoying this book again in the future.

What I will say is this book is an achievement. Many critics slot him in right next to Balzac, which I can certainly see--except I think stylistically that Queirós comes out on top. He feels much smoother to me and a...more

· see review

Jul 12, 2011

Craig Stapleton rated it

· review of another edition

This is an absolutely formidable novel. The book itself is very big but you do not notice it because the story is so interesting that you just can't stop reading it. I have listened to an unabridged free audio book version of this book. It has a very good description of what the Portuguese society looked like in the 19th century which, to some extent, still applies today.

· see review

Apr 03, 2009

Ophelia Beyle rated it

· review of another edition

As a realist novel, Os Maias is a sublime work of art. It really takes the mirror metaphor to a new level (Stendhal once wrote that a novel must be like a mirror walking down the road).

However, these same qualities make it an extremely boring read, since it's more a novel about life in XIX Portugal than a novel with a real, defined plot. That makes it tedious at times, and the 800+ pages don't help any.

· see review

Dec 15, 2008

Laura rated it

· review of another edition

...a little bit boring so far? but worth finding out what the portuguese version of the 19th century novel is like....

ok, i totally take it back! not boring at all. i think at first, i found it hard to reconcile the two prevailing tones in which the book is written: Votairian irony and a kind of light romanticism. it turns out to be really beautiful and affecting in the end. it really scratched my 19th century novel itch.

like 1 like

· see review

Jul 24, 2008

Katherine rated it

a friend keeps recommending jose saramago to me. i don't think i'm smart enough for saramago but saramago calls this dude portugal's greatest novelist - so i think it's a worthy replacement for saramago.

the nyt review makes this novel sound like something of a socially conscious bodice-ripper, which appeals to me.

UPDATE: i didn't find this book to be terrible socially conscious, but it was conscious (and critical) of Polite Society. there is a definite kinship between w...more

· see review

Jan 10, 2012

Maria Carmo rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Everyone.

Shelves: livros-em-português, novel-romance-revealing-historica, portugal

An emblematic romance by Eça, it shows how society's rules and the secrecy that veiled most "affairs" in the time of "Victorian" morals may end up in a shocking discovery...
Marvelously written, a picture of society and culture, a study into the psychology of a certain time frame...

Maria Carmo.

· see review

Feb 22, 2011

Carvas rated it

· review of another edition

Que história!
Não sei o que tem, tem momentos de seca completa, mas tem qualquer coisa que nos faz envolver na história.
Absolutamente brilhante. Compreendo bem porque é que os teenagers não gostam de o ler - é desmotivador. Mas quem se decide a ler não se vai arrepender.

· see review

Mar 01, 2010

Myimaginariumspace rated it

· review of another edition

Li no Secundário ...li-o 3 xs e chorei das 3 xs a minha mãe já perguntava "porque lês algo que te faz chorar?" é simplesmente um livro fascinante, li logo o mistério da estrada de sintra que tb me fascinou e pretendo lê-los todos! :)

· see review

Aug 31, 2010

Serenella rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: favourites, classics, victorian

I'm terrible at writing reviews, and I'm definitely not worthy of reviewing this book, but I just had to gush about it here. I read it years ago, and I still recall some of the passages, so gorgeously written it is. The story is also amazing: sad, yes, but incredible. Eça de Queirós is my favourite Portuguese novelist by far, and I consider this his masterpiece. The only thing I regret is that I've only read it once so far. Will definitely read it again at some point.

· see review

Mar 30, 2009

Kimi rated it

· review of another edition

i read this in english, not portuguese, but i couldn't find the english edition i read on the goodreads list. it was translated by margaret jull costa, who translates javier marias' books. (and i really like her translations).
anyway, the first book i read by 'the best portuguese writer' according to saramago. i did really enjoy it but i spent too long on it (got distracted, lost thread, etc.). if you are going to read it (600 pages plus), then harold bloom and i really recommend the costa...more

· see review

Apr 15, 2010

Sunlover rated it

· review of another edition

im not aware if there's an english version of this book, but if there is, i comepletly recomend it! its a great story about The Maias, a high society family and about the portuguese reallity late 19 century.

· see review

Jun 10, 2011

Paula rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: apreciadores de um bom vinho...

Recommended to Paula by: leitra "obrigatória" na Escola

Shelves: dos-15-a0s-16anos

A argúcia e a fina ironia transportamnos para um mundo realista. As personagens modeladas e as circunstâncias envolventes levam-nos a um enredo envolvente.
Lê-se, relê-se e vai-se lendo.

· see review

May 19, 2010

Linda rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: portuguese-lusophone-africa-brazil

A sort of Dickens-James blend, set late 19th century Lisbon. The protagonists are of the extremely wealthy idle class in the historical when Portugal is slowly suffering the result of its centuries of political decadence and strict social stratification.

· see review

Jan 13, 2011

Helder added it · review of another edition

It's a very descriptive book on the beggining. Really good story, with a great twist. It was part of school reading, but I only read it when I felt the urge to do so.

· see review

Jul 27, 2011

Catarina rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011, books-i-own, for-school

Leitura realizada no âmbito da disciplina de Literatura Portuguesa e Português. É sempre desagradável ler algo por obrigação, mas este foi uma surpresa.
O inicio é algo aborrecido, mas, depois da descrição de toda a situação da família Maia, toma o seu ritmo e consegue descrever uma sociedade portuguesa que, depois de tantos anos, ainda se pode encaixar nestes moldes.

· see review

May 02, 2011

lyell bark rated it

· review of another edition

damn this book is cool and the first half or so is really funny, enjoyed the running gag about the pastry. no one gets the pastry in the end. too bad.

· see review

Oct 22, 2010

Borreicho rated it

· review of another edition

Read it for school. Hated it because it was an obligation. It's probably a great book, but I didn't enjoy it then and I don't think I'll read it ever again.

· see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 82 83 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (36)

More editions...

Genres

Classics

38 users

European Literature > Portuguese Literature

25 users

Romance

18 users

Novels

7 users

Academic > School

6 users

Historical Fiction

6 users

Literature > 19th Century

5 users

Cultural > Portugal

3 users

Academic > Read For School

3 users

See top shelves...

Readers Also Enjoyed

Equador
by Miguel Sousa Tavares
The Lusiads
by Luis Vaz de Camoies
Mensagem - Poemas esotéricos
by Fernando Pessoa (Author)
Amor de Perdição
by Camilo Castelo Branco
A Morgadinha dos Canaviais
by Júlio Dinis

About Eça de Queiroz

José Maria de Eça de Queirós or Eça de Queiroz (November 25, 1845 – August 16, 1900) is generally considered to be the greatest Portuguese writer in the realist style. Zola considered him to be far greater than Flaubert. The London Observer critics rank him with Dickens, Balzac and Tolstoy. Eça never officially rejected Catholicism, and in many of his private letters he even invokes Jesus and uses...more

More about Eça de Queiroz...

Books by Eça de Queiroz

The Crime of Father Amaro: Scenes from the Religious Life

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Pin It

Trivia About The Maias

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from The Maias

“É extraordinário! Neste abençoado país todos os políticos têm «imenso talento». A oposição confessa sempre que os ministros, que ela cobre de injúrias, tem, à parte os disparates que fazem, um «talento de primeira ordem»! Por outro lado a maioria admite que a oposição, a quem ela contantemente recrimina pelos disparates que fez, está cheia de «robustíssimos talentos»! De resto todo o mundo concorda que o país é uma choldra. E resulta portanto este facto supracómico: um país governado «com imenso talento», que é de todos na Europa, segundo o consenso unânime, o mais estùpidamente governado! Eu proponho isto, a ver: que, como os talentos sempre falham, se experimentem uma vez os imbecis!” — 12 people liked it

“Aos políticos: «menos liberalismo e mais carácter»; aos homens de letras: «menos eloquência e mais ideia»; aos cidadãos em geral: «menos progresso e mais moral».” — 6 people liked it

More quotes…

Groups That Shelved The Maias

Exceptional Books

1235 members

last activity 5 hours, 10 min ago

shelf: read

Around the World in 80 Books

331 members

last activity 20 minutes ago

shelf: read

Portugal

926 members

last activity Feb 09, 2012 03:03am

shelf: to-read

title link	preview: The Maias
avg rating	preview: The Maias Goodreads rating: 4.03 (1957 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/99242.The_Maias?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328701904m/99242.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/99242.The_Maias?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Maias by Eça de Queiroz[/url]

The Maias

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Readers Also Enjoyed

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website