
The Lusiad
- Reading level
- Plain English
- Price
- Free
About the book
"The Lusiad; Or, The Discovery of India, an Epic Poem" by Luís de Camões is a Portuguese epic poem first published in 1572. Written in ten cantos with over a thousand stanzas, this national masterpiece celebrates Vasco da Gama's voyage to India. Gods debate Portugal's fate while heroes face supernatural forces and treacherous seas. Through grand speeches and vivid descriptions, Camões transforms historical exploration into mythic adventure, elevating Portuguese sailors to legendary status and securing their place among history's greatest seafaring nations.
- Gama, Vasco da, 1469-1524
- Explorers
- India
- Portugal
- Epic poetry, Portuguese
- Portuguese poetry
Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #32528. The Lusiad on Wikipedia.

