Raul Brandão was a Portuguese writer, journalist, and also a military officer. He was part of the group "Nefelibatas" and the "Geração de 90", of the 19th century, and is best known for his realistic fiction that is pervaded throughout by lyricism. He published three novels: A Farsa (1903), Os Pobres ("The Poor", 1906), and Húmus (1917). He died in 1930.
Karen Sherwood Sotelino has translated novels, short stories, and technical texts from Portuguese into English. Recently, she has taught Portuguese language and translation at Stanford University, where she is visiting scholar in the department of Iberian and Latin American cultures.