Os Lusíadas de Luís de Camões

Once upon a time, there was a people of sailors and heroes, the Portuguese people, our people, who many years ago—more than four hundred—wanted to discover the sea route to India. India then appeared, in the eyes of all Europeans, as a land of splendor and wealth, desired by all men, but where it was difficult, almost impossible, to reach. Four ships commanded by the great Captain Vasco da Gama set sail across the Atlantic, known only as far as the Cape of Good Hope, rounded that Cape, and set sail for the region they sought. The wind was gentle, the sea serene. Until then, the voyage had been peaceful. But the dangers would be constant, the crossing risky, the journey long. And no one knew for sure which course to follow, for no other people had ever dared to attempt such a long and costly voyage. Only the courage and audacity of the Portuguese would be capable of such a heroic feat! Thus begins João de Barros's prose adaptation of Os Lusíadas, the Portuguese epic poem. In this work, the author condenses and simplifies the reading of this gem of national literature, making it accessible to a younger audience interested in learning about its history and origins.