Aquilino is a a true master of the Portuguese language, using vocabulary often unknown to the younger reader and with roots in the region of Beira Alta in Portugal. This book shows many insights into the life of Aquilino Ribeiro and his views on the portuguese monarchy and the period of transition into the first Republic. He is as well a hard critic of the chatolic church, an institution that for many decades kept Portugal in a state of ignorance, often collaborating with oppressive regimes like the one from António de Oliveira Salazar. More than a true confession, this is a highly stylised autobiography with some nice touch of humour.

This is a short study of the history of Castratti, made in an academic context. It could have been written more extensively, given the amount of bibliography used, but I have no idea of the characteristics of the work. It is nonetheless a good summary of some important information about this type of singers and its time a social importance.