Document Type

Essay

Publication Date

10-2024

DOI

10.1353/mlr.00001

Publication Title

Modern Language Review

Volume

119

Issue

4

Pages

431-455

Abstract

This essay traces the formation of the myth of Portuguese Love, and demonstrates both its transcultural reach and its importance for literary history. Sparked by the tragic love of Pedro and Inês de Castro, the notion of Portuguese Love was crystallized in seventeenth-century France by Lettres portugaises, influenced European letters for centuries, and became an enduring myth in Portuguese culture. Anchored by Roland Barthes’s critique of the contemporary disparagement of sentimental love, the essay argues that Portuguese Love’s continued affirmation, from nineteenth-century literary iterations to current manifestations, demonstrates the power of a discourse of genuine feeling to counter ideological appropriation.

Rights

Open access:

After a 12-month embargo, authors can grant full open access to their accepted manuscript. The embargo period may be waived in some cases. Authors can deposit their accepted manuscript in their academic institution's digital repository.

© Modern Humanities Research Association 2024

Original Publication Citation

Mourão, M. (2024). ‘More love letters, please!’: Portuguese love and the literary legacy of sincere feeling. Modern Language Review 119(4), 431-455. https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/mlr.00001.

Available for download on Thursday, October 16, 2025

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