O Canto do Cysne

"The Swan's Song" is the title of a celebrated posthumous book by the Portuguese poet João Penha. The work, which includes a preface by the critic Albino Forjaz de Sampaio, holds a very special place in Portuguese literature as it compiles the last literary works—divided between verse and prose—of one of the greatest exponents and precursors of Parnassianism in Portugal. Part One (Verse) brings together late poems where the author addresses recurring themes of his career, such as love and the inspiring muse, but imbued with a critical distance, subtle irony, and formal rigor typical of Parnassian maturity. Part Two (Prose) includes reflections, chronicles, and striking critical studies.