Rio de Janeiro

<p>A book as rich and sprawling as the seductive metropolis it evokes, <i>Rio de Janeiro</i> builds a kaleidoscopic portrait of this city of extremes, and its history of conflict and corruption. Award-winning novelist, ex-government minister and sociologist Luiz Eduardo Soares tells the story of Rio through the everyday lives of its people: gangsters and police, activists, politicians and struggling migrant workers, each with their own version of the city. Taking us on a journey into Rio''s intricate world of favelas, beaches and corridors of power, Soares reveals one of the most extraordinary cities in the world in all its seething, agonistic beauty.<br><br>''Luiz Eduardo Soares is the most insightful observer of Rio I have ever read. He had the unique combination of expert analysis, a compassionate gaze, and a gripping writing style. This is a book that will take its place among the great city chronicles of our time.'' Suketu Mehta</p>