Pero da Covilhã: A Romantic Episode of the Fifteenth Century

A forgotten Portuguese historical romance of exploration, loyalty, and impossible love-now available in English.Before Vasco da Gama reached India by sea, Portugal had already sent secret envoys into the unknown. Among them was Pêro da Covilhã traveler, diplomat, spy, and one of the most remarkable figures of the Age of Discovery.In Pero da Covilhã A Romantic Episode of the Fifteenth Century, Zephyrino Brandão blends history and fiction to recreate the world of late medieval Portugal, Spain, the Mediterranean, Arabia, India, and Abyssinia. Sent by King João II on a perilous mission to discover the routes of the spice trade and gather news of the legendary Christian kingdom of Prester John, Pero da Covilhã leaves behind the woman he loves and enters a world of courts, conspiracies, merchants, deserts, pilgrimages, and distant empires.This richly atmospheric novel follows not only the outward journey of a man across continents, but also the inward drama of fidelity, sacrifice, and longing. Combining romantic sensibility with historical imagination, Brandão gives literary form to one of Portugal's most fascinating explorers: a man who helped prepare the way for the maritime discoveries, yet whose own destiny unfolded far from home.This edition presents the complete English translation of the original Portuguese work, preserving its nineteenth-century elegance while making the narrative accessible to modern readers.Perfect for readers of historical fiction, Portuguese literature, exploration narratives, and the dramatic beginnings of the Age of Discovery.