O Bobo: from the publishing problems to the criticism and historiographical omissions

Abstract

Although considered one of the most important authors of Portuguese Romanticism, Alexandre Herculano still has part of his fictional work not properly explored in the critical, historiographic and editorial areas. We highlight, as a more significant example of this, the unusual course of publishing the historical novel O Bobo, characterized by frequent demonstrations of negligence, incompatible with its reception by the reading public. This paper describes, in general terms, such editorial trajectory and highlights its problematic reception by literary historiography and criticism. It also presents a critical reflection on this specific Herculano's work, aiming to identify some reasons that have triggered this critic and editorial discomfort.