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However, it was always dominated by the "great figures" of national history, as were the more traditionalist biographies. Therefore, the gaps that were occasionally pointed out by authors dedicated to the genre displayed both confirmation of their evident vigour and condemnation for what had remained undone in particular areas and among less conspicuous characters: as noted by Carolina Michaëlis de Vasconcelos in the case of second-tier female figures, or by the Count of Campo Belo, when he spoke of the need to create a "national biographical archive" listing all those who had distinguished themselves locally, and even Oliveira Marques, towards the last quarter of the century who, against the existing volume of biographies on the prominent names of national political history, advocated for a "developed and organised biographical studies programme on the Portuguese of the twentieth century" (P. Chagas, Portuguezes illustres, 1869, p.xiii, Migalhas de história portugueza, 1893, p.135, “Historia de Julio Cezar...”, 1864; Campo Belo, O arquivo biográfico nacional, 1944, p.5; C. Michaëlis de Vasconcelos, A Infanta D. Maria de Portugal..., 1902, p.2;O. Marques, op. cit., pp.17-19).
And yet, despite the scarce novelty brought by the biographical exercises, production in this area was abundant, especially that which targeted a broader audience. M. Lopes de Almeida referred to this much larger set when pointing to the "abundant biography" included in this genre (not only historical) and spoke of the need to offer it a separate place in the history of Portuguese literature. The fact that biographical writing has been practiced not only generally but has also been an object of curiosity since early times is not second-hand news. Notes on the success and ease with which some works of this nature sold out, the frequency of their re-editions (of which the case of Oliveira Martins is the most notable), the multiplication of editorial collections especially dedicated to the genre, and the profusion of periodical publications in which biographical news occupied a central position, all contribute to paint a far less gloomy picture than some more pessimistic comments would suggest, even within the academic circuit (Lopes de Almeida, Introdução a Lourenço Mexia Galvão, 1946, pp.23-24).
