Published in 1871, this book is a forgotten piece of Portuguese satire. It’s structured as a series of letters and articles, all centered on a ridiculous but heated argument. The ‘Questão do Palheiro’ (The Haystack Question) was a real literary spat that blew up between university students from Coimbra and the intellectuals of Lisbon. The book captures this moment, letting the characters—stand-ins for the two cities—hurl insults and defend their cultural turf.

The Story

There’s no single hero here. Instead, you get a chorus of voices—the ‘Coimbrões’ and the ‘Lisboetas’—going back and forth. The original fight might have been about a specific poem or play, but it quickly spirals. The students from Coimbra are accused of being old-fashioned and pretentious. The Lisbon crowd gets called shallow and trendy. They argue about language, style, and who represents the ‘true’ spirit of Portugal. It’s less a plot and more a snapshot of a very public, very petty cultural meltdown.

Why You Should Read It

What I love is how modern it feels. Strip away the 19th-century language, and you have the exact same dynamics you see in any fan war or online debate today. The posturing, the regional pride, the way a small disagreement becomes a huge identity issue—it’s all here. Loureiro doesn’t just report it; he clearly enjoys the absurdity. You can almost hear him laughing as he records these over-the-top accusations. It’s a reminder that people have always found deeply important hills to die on, even if that hill is just a pile of hay.

Final Verdict

This is a niche gem, but a delightful one. It’s perfect for history buffs who enjoy social history over dates and battles, or for anyone who likes sharp, observational humor. If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at a pointless argument on social media, you’ll get a kick out of seeing that nothing is new. It’s a short, witty time capsule that proves some human dramas are truly timeless.