A collection of tales by four popular Brazilian authors: Henrique Maximiano Coelho Netto (1864-1934) was a writer, politician, and professor; Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis, often known as Machado de Assis or Machado, (1839-1908) was a Brazilian realist novelist, poet and short-story writer. His works had a great influence on Brazilian literary schools of the late 19th century and 20th century; Medeiros e Albuquerque (1867-?) was director-general of public instruction in Rio de Janeiro, professor at the Normal School and the National School of Fine Arts; Carmen Dolores (Emilia Moncorvo Bandeira de Mello) (1852-1910), achieved a wide reputation in the field of the short story, novel and feuilleton. Her career started with the novel Confession. Other works are The Struggle, A Country Drama, and Brazilian Legends.