Resumo
A Queda d'um Anjo by Camilo Castelo Branco, published in 1866, is a satirical novel tracing the moral and social decline of Calisto Eloy de Silos e Benevides de Barbuda, a provincial nobleman from Caçarelhos. Initially a virtuous, erudite legitimist steeped in classical and historical texts, Calisto is elected to parliament, exposing him to Lisbon’s corrupt urban society.
His rigid traditionalism clashes with modern realities, leading to humorous missteps, such as his misguided reliance on outdated texts about Lisbon’s water. Seduced by the city’s luxuries and a cunning woman, Iphigenia, he abandons his loyal wife, Theodora, and his principles, embracing a lavish, morally compromised life.
Theodora, betrayed, succumbs to her own indiscretions.
The novel critiques societal decay, political corruption, and human frailty with sharp irony.