Os Maias

The Maias

Cover of volume 1 in the first edition (1888)
Author	José Maria de Eça de Queiroz
Original title	Os Maias
Translator	Patricia McGowen Pinheiro Ann Stevens
Country	Portugal
Language	Portuguese
Publisher	Livraria Internacional de Ernesto Chardron, Lugan e Genelioux
Publication date	1888
Published in English	1965
Media type	Print
Pages	990 458pp (Vol. 1) 532pp (Vol. 2)

Os Maias: Episódios da Vida Romântica ("The Maias: Episodes of Romantic Life") is a realist novel by Portuguese author José Maria de Eça de Queiroz, also known under the modernized spelling Eça de Queirós. Maia is the name of a fictional family, although some episodes fit into the history of the real Maia family.

As early as 1878, while serving in the Portuguese consulate at Newcastle upon Tyne, Eça had at least given a name to this book and had begun working on it. It was mainly written during his residence in Bristol, and it was first published in 1888.

The book largely concerns the life of young Carlos da Maia in 1870s Portugal, when along with his best friend João da Ega he spends his time making witticisms about society and having affairs. The novel uses the Monarchy's decline in Portugal (late 19th century), as a predominant theme, reflecting its author's own regret at his country's slow decay.

The analysis of the book is compulsory for 11th year students in Portugal.

The book begins with the characters Carlos Eduardo da Maia, João da Ega, Afonso da Maia and Vilaça in the family's old house with plans to reconstruct it. The house, nicknamed "Ramalhete" (bouquet), is located in Lisbon. Its name comes from a tiled panel depicting a bouquet of sunflowers set on the place where the stone with the coat of arms should be. As the introductory scene goes on, the story of the Maia family is given, in a flashback style by Afonso.

Afonso da Maia, a Portuguese well-mannered man, is married to Maria Eduarda Runa and their marriage only produces one son – Pedro da Maia. Pedro da Maia, who is given the typical romantic education, becomes a weak, low-spirited and sensitive man. He is very close to his mother and is inconsolable after her death. He only recuperates when he meets a beautiful woman called Maria Monforte with whom he gets married despite his father's objection. The marriage produces a son, Carlos Eduardo, and a daughter, whose name is not revealed until much later. Some time later, Maria Monforte falls in love with Tancredo (an Italian who is staying at their house after being accidentally wounded by Pedro) and runs away to Italy with him, betraying Pedro and taking her daughter along. When Pedro finds out, he is heartbroken and goes with his son to his father's house where he, during the night, commits suicide. Carlos stays at his grandfather's house and is educated by him, receiving the typical British education (as Afonso would have liked to have raised his son).