[1] Born in Carregal de Tabosa, Sernancelhe, the natural son of Joaquim Francisco Ribeiro, a priest, and Mariana do Rosário Gomes, he had three older siblings: Maria do Rosário, Melchior and Joaquim.

He was originally destined for the priesthood, but became involved with the Portuguese Republican Party in opposition to the Royal House of Braganza.

Although he did not participate directly, he was involved in the Lisbon Regicide and knew the plan and the assassins, as he stated in his work "Um escritor confessa-se” (A Writer Confesses).

[2][3] Between 1908 and 1914, he lived between Paris and Berlin, cities where he broadened his horizons enormously.

He was later involved in opposition to António de Oliveira Salazar and the Estado Novo, whose government had moved to censor or ban several of his books.