In a sharp and witty tone, "Warning" offers a metalinguistic reflection by Machado de Assis on authorial vanity and the dangers of overly personal reading. Originally published as an introductory text in some of his short story collections, the author satirizes the relationship between writer and reader, warning — with refined elegance — that he takes no responsibility for offenses, misinterpretations, or outbursts triggered by his stories. A provocative prelude that already hints at the genius behind the pages that follow.