Raios de extincta luz / poesias ineditas (1859-1863)

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

20874

Title

Raios de extincta luz / poesias ineditas (1859-1863)

Language

pt

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This collection presents the unpublished, early religious and romantic poetry of Antero de Quental (1859–1863), a phase he later destroyed to embrace revolutionary ideals. Edited by Theophilo Braga, these verses reveal the poet's spiritual evolution, offering a rare glimpse into his contemplative soul before his tragic suicide. A significant addition to Portuguese literature.

Summary up to 500 words

Published posthumously in 1892, *Raios de extincta luz* (Rays of Extinguished Light) restores a luminous chapter to the work of Antero de Quental, Portugal's most profound modern poet. This volume compiles poems written between 1859 and 1863, a period Quental later rejected as too religious and contemplative. Preserved by his friend Eduardo Xavier, these works depict a young man navigating faith, nature, and existential doubt before his radical break with tradition. The collection opens with the invocation 'Raios de extincta luz,' which foreshadows the poet's eventual despair. Early sonnets like 'A Pyramide no Deserto' contrast the eternal silence of history with human transience, while 'Fiat Lux!' personifies the cosmos, depicting God's hand creating the world from chaos. The tone shifts from mystical devotion in 'Per Amica Silentia Lunae' to the biting pessimism of his later years. The volume also includes translations of Goethe's 'Faust' and an Italian version of Dante's 'Inferno.' Through these texts, readers witness the 'germs' of Quental's genius before his radical break with tradition, providing essential context for understanding his complete artistic trajectory and tragic life. The book reveals a poet who, despite his later revolutionary stance, was deeply rooted in Catholic spirituality and Romanticism during his youth. It captures the psychological evolution of a man who moved from serene faith to profound disillusionment, ultimately finding solace in the divine amidst the chaos of existence. This restoration offers a complete view of Quental's soul, bridging the gap between his early, unknown works and his famous, later revolutionary odes.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Poetry