Reliquias de Casa Velha

by Machado de Assis

"Reliquias de Casa Velha" by Machado de Assis is a collection published in 1906. This penultimate work gathers sixteen texts across multiple genres: a poem dedicated to his deceased wife, nine stories, a speech, three literary essays, and two plays. The title reflects Machado's conception of these pieces as relics from an old house—memories of happiness lost and sadness passed. The stories explore themes of slavery, passion, death, and human psychology with Machado's characteristic insight, ranging from the disturbing "Pai contra Mãe" to philosophical meditations on mortality.