The Great Earthquake that devastated Lisbon in 1755 was one of the most significant events in Portuguese history. Its political, social and cultural repercussions permanently changed the face of the city and the country, and were at the heart of heated theo- logical and philosophical debate among some of the brightest minds of the Age of Enlightenment in Europe. A Short Book on the Great Earthquake tells the story of this extraordinary event with an innovative approach that takes us on an exciting journey through what happened on that fateful day, both from the perspective of some of those who experienced it first-hand, and from a wider contextual point of view. For instance, what links the 1755 Earthquake to September 11, 2001, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD? What would Lisbon look like today if the earthquake had never happened? What was its cultural impact in 18th-century Europe? How do catastrophes change our perception of the world? The answers provided in this book are unexpected, alternative and, ultimately, audacious.