Afonso Lopes Vieira's novel is a landmark work of Portuguese literature. Set in rural Portugal during the early 20th century, the novel tells the story of a young man, known only as 'O Encoberto, ' who becomes a symbol of hope for the impoverished population. The novel is a moving meditation on faith, love, and the struggle for social justice. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in Portuguese literature and culture. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.