João Mário Grilo

At the time Portugal presented a strange spectacle to the rest of Europe. D. Afonso VI, son of the fortunate D. João de Bragança, was in possession of the throne and was an insane imbecile. His wife, daughter of the Duke of Nemours and cousin of Louis XIV, dared hatch a plot to oust her husband from the throne. The king's stupidity justified the queen's bravado. Despite being a master of unusual strength and having slept with his wife for a long time, she accused him of being impotent. (imdb)

A grieving writer is visited by the troubled protagonist of her novel, who has come to life to torment her. In her novel, the protagonist awaits trial for a serious crime, and the circumstances leading up to it are gradually revealed.