Founding the Brazilian empire; bending the twig; the Regency and the boy Emperor; Dom Pedro's Brazil in the 1840s; the Emperor's family life and general routine; 25 years of foreign troubles; Dom Pedro's struggle with a premature political system; a visit to the old world; the Emperor's religious views and church policy; touring the United States of America; Dom Pedro as teacher of the Brazilian nation; promotion of internal progress; among the intellectuals; slavery and abolition; increasing discontent toward the monarchy; the menace of militarism; the revolution; banishment of the Imperial family; Dom Pedro in exile; appendices.