Ricardo Lucas's Reviews > A Cidade e as Serras

Once, while discussing books with some friends, I remember one of them telling me that "A Cidade e as Serras", or "The City and The Mountains", was one of her favorite books ever. Adding that to Eça de Querós being a fellow-townsman of mine, it was difficult not to give it a go.
The narrator, Zé Fernandes, walks us through the life of Jacinto, a good friend of his, and its underlying philosophy - Jacinto is convinced that the soul of Civilization can only be found on the City, whereas the countryside, disregarded as Mountains, is merely the place for crude people, without any culture or courtesy. Together, they enjoy their days in Paris, where Jacinto spends his time reading umpteen books and throwing parties for the dukes and duchesses of the city. Yet, everything changes when, due to family issues, Jacinto has to visit Tormes, a small village on the Mountains, in Portugal. This is too big of a change for Jacinto, who mourns in advance while preparing for the trip. However, things turn out better than expected for him, as he eventually realizes the grace of the Mountains and stays in Tormes for the rest of his days.
Eça de Queirós may as well be one the most descriptive authors ever to exist, with so much attention to detail it will drive you crazy. On the other hand, the contrast between the City and the Mountains can not only be found on the characters ideas, but also on his writing. It is almost a beautiful ode to the Mountains of our country and how, despite being very different from the big cities, they can hold the upmost beauty, in their own way.
It was a great reading!