In our second November meeting, we will dive back into the 19th century with Aluísio Azevedo's *The Slum* (or *O Cortiço* in the original Portuguese). First published in 1890, the novel, set in Azevedo's native Brazil, is 'one of the most widely read and critically acclaimed novels ever written about Brazil. Indeed, its great popularity, realistic descriptions, archetypal situations, detailed local coloring, and overall race-consciousness may well evoke Huckleberry Finn as the novel's North American equivalent.' (Book jacket) 'A deftly told, deeply moving, and hardscrabble novel that features several stirring passages about life in the streets, the melting-pot realities of the modern city, and the oft-unstable mind of the crowd, The Slum will captivate anyone who might appreciate a more poetic, less political take on the nineteenth-century naturalism of Crane or Dreiser.’ -Waterstones Finding a paper copy of this novel may not be so easy, so plan ahead if you want to read the physical book! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/949601.The_Slum The meeting will take place at Cabana Covent Garden up on Central St Giles. So join us for some delicious samba style as we delve into this classic of Brazilian literature! N.B. We will be charging an event fee of £3, non-refundable, to discourage no-shows and contribute to the running costs of the group. Please only sign up if you intend to come along as space is limited to make for an effective discussion!

Description supplied by the event organiser.