The Multiple Ways of Reading: Representations of Reading in Nineteenth-Century Lisbon in O Primo Basílio by Eça de Queirós

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyze the different ways in which reading is represented in the novel O primo Basílio by Eça de Queirós. To this end, some aspects will be taken into consideration, such as literary culture, the education of men and women of the time, the circulation of periodicals, and the social context of nineteenth-century Lisbon. The intention is to provide a brief overview of the recurrence of reading in Queirós’ work, highlighting the characters’ literary preferences and how this aspect influences the overall meaning of the novel.

Keywords:
Eça de Queirós; Reader Characters; Newspapers; Nineteenth Century