José Maria de Eça de Queiroz, also known as Eça de Queirós, is universally acclaimed as one of the greatest Portuguese writers, mastering the realist style with unparalleled skill. His literary prowess was such that Zola lauded him as being superior to Flaubert, and in the London Observer, Jonathan Keates placed him on the same pedestal as Dickens, Balzac, and Tolstoy. Born into the family of a prominent magistrate, Eça de Queiroz's early years were spent among relatives, and his formal education began in a boarding school at the tender age of five. After graduating with a law degree in 1866 from the University of Coimbra, where he indulged in French literature, he settled in Lisbon. Here, his father, who had reconciled with Eça de Queiroz's mother, supported him in starting his career in the legal profession. However, Eça de Queiroz's true passion was always literature, leading him to become a pivotal figure in introducing naturalism and realism to Portugal. His commitment to social reform is evident through his novels, securing his legacy as not only the greatest Portuguese novelist of the 19th century but also an author whose influence was felt internationally.