Afonso the Conqueror - Maria Helena Ventura Library 001

You hold in your hands an epic novel: the life of D. Afonso Henriques. Drawing on meticulous historical research, Maria Ventura transports us to the 12th century, immersing us in the landscapes, cultures, and figures of that distant era. At the heart of the action is Afonso Henriques, the first man to dream of Portugal, who made that dream a reality with sword strokes, family betrayals, religious intrigues, and immense determination.
Afonso has come down to us as a fearless man, a winner of impossible battles, a leader on the battlefield and in diplomacy. But Maria Ventura goes further, presenting us with a man who would have delighted Machiavelli: as cunning as they come and unscrupulous whenever necessary. And also a man passionate about life, about his children—whether legitimate or illegitimate—and even about his wife, whom he eventually learned to love.
Maturing from an impulsive prince to a thoughtful sovereign, by the end of his life Afonso left us a territory not much different from what we have today. Without him, there would be no Portugal or Portuguese language, and the caravels with the cross of Christ would never have set sail in search of new lands, nor would Camões have sung the Lusiads.