Set against the backdrop of industrializing Portugal, Tribunaes de Arbitros-Avindores follows João, a principled but inexperienced lawyer. He takes on the defense of textile workers who have been fired after a strike for better wages and conditions. The case is supposed to be heard by a special arbitration tribunal designed to be fair. But João quickly learns that the deck is stacked. The factory owner, Senhor Vaz, has connections everywhere—from the judge's bench to the local newspapers.

The Story

The plot moves between the tense courtroom scenes and João's personal life, where pressure mounts from his own family to drop the case and secure a more stable future. As he digs deeper, he uncovers not just violations of labor agreements, but a web of bribes and silent agreements meant to keep the working class in its place. The heart of the story is his struggle to find a crack in the system, a piece of evidence or a moment of conscience in one of the arbitrators, that could tip the scales. It's a race against time, influence, and growing public apathy.

Why You Should Read It

What grabbed me wasn't just the historical setting, but how familiar the conflict feels. João isn't a superhero lawyer; he's often scared, outmatched, and makes mistakes. His clients are tired, skeptical, and not always easy to help. The book shows how injustice often isn't a dramatic evil, but something boring and bureaucratic—a shrugged shoulder, a lost document, a conveniently delayed hearing. Bastos writes with a sharp eye for the small details that build a corrupt system. You get the smell of the factory, the nervous energy in the taverns where the workers meet, and the polished, cold atmosphere of the elite clubs. It makes the past feel immediate and urgent.

Final Verdict

This is a book for anyone who likes their historical fiction with a strong dose of real-world tension. It's perfect for readers who enjoy stories about underdogs, political dramas, or legal battles where the law is only part of the story. If you liked the social stakes of a novel like Germinal but prefer a tighter, courtroom-focused narrative, you'll find a lot to love here. It's not a light read—it's a compelling, sometimes frustrating, look at a fight for fairness that resonates deeply today.