It was based on his own family situation and described the influence of the English on Portuguese culture. (His mother was English.) Encouraged by its immediate success, he published Uma Família Inglesa (1868; "An English Family"), a novel describing English society in Porto.
His family background and the influence of English on Portuguese culture inspired him to write this piece. His mother was English. Encouraged by its initial success, he wrote Uma Família Inglesa (1868; "An English Family"), a novel that explored English society in Porto.