Exquisitely written, this short story is a delicious introduction to Saramago's work. In an imaginary kingdom, a noble and persistent man requests that the king grant him one of his ships to search for an unknown island. If he has his wish fulfilled, the man will sail in search of the unknown island of his dreams. Saramago uses this backdrop for a harsh fable about modern man; he shows us that dreaming is perhaps the real way towards happiness.