Heliopolis (Scudamore novel)

Heliopolis is a 2009 novel by the British author James Scudamore. It is set in the city and surrounding areas of contemporary São Paulo, Brazil, and follows the story of a young, favela-born man, Ludo dos Santos. The book was nominated for the 2009 Man Booker Prize and is Scudamore's second novel.[1]

Heliopolis
First edition
AuthorJames Scudamore
GenreNovel
PublisherHarvill Press
Publication date
February 2009
Publication placeEngland
Media typePrint
Pages278 pp
ISBN978-1-84655-188-8

Reception

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Critic Henry Shukman of The Guardian notes, "The novel is cleverly pitched to explore the two socioeconomic poles of modern urban Brazil. And the writing is exemplary: you feel the hand of a natural at work, one whose command of tone is strong, and who has an instinctive feel for handling a story."[2] Writing in The Telegraph of London, reviewer Sinclair McKay calls the novel "a dark, gripping, often comic novel concerning appetite, urban poverty and identity."[3]

Heliopolis was listed as one of the final dozen nominees for the 2009 Man Booker Prize.[1] Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall ultimately won.[4]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b "Judges decide on Man Booker Dozen". The Man Booker Prizes - News. The Booker Prize Foundation. Archived from the original on 21 May 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  2. ^ Shukman, Henry (30 January 2009). "Flight from the favela". The Guardian (UK). Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  3. ^ McKay, Sinclair (20 January 2009). "Heliopolis by James Scudamore - review". The Telegraph (UK). Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  4. ^ "Wolf Hall wins the 2009 Man Booker Prize for Fiction". The Man Booker Prizes - News. The Booker Prize Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
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