Don Sebastian : $b or, The house of the Braganza: An historical romance. vol. 1

"Don Sebastian: or, The House of the Braganza" by Miss Anna Maria Porter is a historical romance that journeys into the life of Prince Sebastian of Portugal, revealing his early years, noble character, and the calamities that befall him amidst a turbulent nation. Set against Portugal's 16th-century struggles, the story weaves together themes of love, soaring ambition, and a relentless pursuit of honor. The novel begins by establishing the historical importance of Don Sebastian, detailing his ancestry and the events surrounding his youth, leading the reader to a dramatic period marked by his father's death and the concealment of his destiny from his pregnant mother. Born into loss and uncertainty, the infant Sebastian's arrival foreshadows a difficult life, as the narrative subtly describes his intricate persona, molded by love and a passionate desire for glory, suggesting the challenges he will encounter as both a ruler and a man entangled in love, especially with the alluring Donna Gonsalva.