"The Jew" is a historical novel by Camilo Castelo Branco, published in 1866, that tells the tragic life story of António José da Silva, the most famous Portuguese playwright of his time, who was condemned to death by the Inquisition. The work serves as a tribute to António, representing the thousands of Portuguese Jews who suffered during the Inquisition between 1540 and 1794.

António José da Silva was born in 1705 in Rio de Janeiro into a Jewish family that identified as "New Christians." He faced a childhood marked by religious persecution. At the age of seven, his mother was accused of secretly practicing Judaism and was deported to Lisbon, while his father took him to Portugal to save his mother from the stake.

In Portugal, António received a Catholic education and studied Law at the University of Coimbra, eventually becoming a lawyer and playwright. His comedies, which satirize Portuguese society, were very popular in the 1730s and were known as the "Jew's plays."

Influenced by Enlightenment ideas, António wrote a satire promoting social egalitarianism, which led to his arrest and torture. Although he signed a "reconciliation" with the Catholic Church, his life and work remained under surveillance. Years later, his wife was accused of heresy for practicing Judaism, and in defending her, António was tortured again. It was discovered that he was circumcised, which aggravated the charges against him.

António was unjustly condemned, even though the reading of the sentence indicated that he did not practice Judaism. In October 1739, he was garrotted and burned at an Auto-da-Fé in Lisbon, where today is the Terreiro do Paço.

Through detailed research into the Inquisition’s processes, Camilo Castelo Branco creates a novel rich in historical and true details, blending fiction and reality. *The Jew* is not only an example of Camilo's work but has also inspired various other works in literature, theater, and cinema. The Portuguese playwright Bernardo Santareno, who was also Jewish, wrote a play about António's life, drawing parallels between the Inquisition and the Salazar regime.

The judicial process against António José da Silva has survived and is currently archived in the modern Torre do Tombo.