The São Paulo Prize for Literature () is a Brazilian literary prize for novels written in the Portuguese language and published in Brazil. It was established in 2008 by the Secretary of Culture for the State of São Paulo. Though not as old as other literary prizes in Brazil, such as the Machado de Assis Prize, the São Paulo Prize has quickly risen in prestige. For example, in 2011, there were 221 submissions for the prize. This rapid rise in popularity is partly because of the large cash prize. Every year two prizes of R$200,000 each are awarded—one for the best novel of the year by an established author, and the other for the best novel of the year by a debut author—making the São Paulo Prize the largest prize for a published work in Brazil, and one of the largest literary prizes in the world. Ten finalists are listed for each award, during the Festival da Mantiqueira, and the winners are announced on the first Monday of August in the Museum of the Portuguese Language.

Winners

The following is a list of the winners since the prize's beginning:

Year Best Book of the YearAuthor Title English Translation 2008 Cristóvão Tezza O Filho Eterno The Eternal Son 2009 Ronaldo Correia de Brito Galiléia n/a 2010 Raimundo Carrero A minha alma é irmã de Deus n/a 2011 Rubens Figueiredo Passageiro do Fim do Dia n/a 2012 Bartolomeu Campos de Queirós Vermelho Amargo n/a 2013 Daniel Galera Barba ensopada de sangue Blood-Drenched Beard 2014 Ana Luísa Escorel Anel de vidro n/a 2015 Estevão Azevedo Tempo de espalhar pedras n/a 2016 Beatriz Bracher Anatomia do Paraíso n/a 2017 Maria Valéria Rezende Outros cantos n/a 2018 Ana Paula Maia Assim na terra como embaixo da terra On Earth As It Is Beneath 2019 Ana Paula Maia Enterre Seus Mortos n/a 2020 Claudia Lage O corpo interminável n/a 2021 Edimilson de Almeida Pereira Front n/a 2022 Antônio Xerxenesky Uma tristeza infinita An Infinite Sadness 2023 Mariana Salomão Carrara Não fossem as sílabas do sábado n/a2024Luciany AparecidaMata Docen/a2025Mariana Salomão CarraraA árvore mais sozinha do mundon/a

Year Best Book of the Year – Debut AuthorAuthor Title English Translation 2008 Tatiana Salem Levy A Chave de Casa The House in Smyrna 2009 Altair Martins A Parede no Escuro n/a 2010 Edney Silvestre Se eu fechar os olhos agora If I Close My Eyes Now 2011 Marcelo Ferroni Método Prático da Guerrilha n/a 2012 Suzana Montoro Os Hungareses n/a*From 2013 to 2018 this prize was split to create separate categories for debut authors under and over 40* 2019 Tiago Ferro O Pai da Menina Morta n/a 2020 Marcelo Labes Paraízo-Paraguay n/a 2021 Morgana Kretzmann Ao pó n/a 2022 Rita Carelli Terrapreta n/a 2023 Alexandre Alliatti Tinta branca n/a2024Eliane MarquesLouças de Famílian/a2025Marcílio França CastroO último dos copistasn/a

Year Best Book of the Year – Debut Author 40 and UnderAuthor Title English Translation 2013 Jacques Fux Antiterapias n/a 2014 Marcos Peres O evangelho segundo Hitler n/a 2015 Enquanto Deus não está olhando n/a 2016 Rafael Gallo Rebentar n/a 2017 Maurício de Almeida A instrução da noite n/a2018Aline BeiO peso do pássaro morton/a

Year Best Book of the Year – Debut Author Over 40Author Title English Translation 2013 Paula Fábrio Desnorteio n/a 2014 Veronica Stigger Opisanie Swiata n/a 2015 Micheliny Verunschk Nossa Teresa – Vida e morte de uma santa suicida n/a 2016 Marcelo Maluf A imensidão íntima dos carneiros n/a 2017 Franklin Carvalho Céus e terra n/a2018Cristina JudarOito do seten/a

Detailed Summary by Year = winner.

2008 São Paulo Prize for Literature The initial jury for the inaugural year of the São Paulo Prize for Literature reviewed 146 novels submitted by 55 publishers and 19 independent authors. The initial jury selected five finalists for each category, after which the final jury selected one winner from each category. The awards ceremony took place on 1 December 2008, and the presenter was the MTV VJ Cazé Peçanha. All entries were first published in Brazil in 2007.

Shortlist for Best Book of the Year Cristóvão Tezza, O Filho Eterno (English translation: The Eternal Son), Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Editora Record, 2007. Beatriz Bracher, Antonio, São Paulo, SP: Editora 34, 2007. Bernardo Carvalho, O sol se põe em São Paulo, São Paulo, SP: Companhia das Letras, 2007. Menalton Braff, A muralha de Adriano, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Bertrand Brasil, 2007. Wilson Bueno, A copista de Kafka, São Paulo, SP: Editora Planeta do Brasil, 2007.

Shortlist for Best Book of the Year – Debut Author Tatiana Salem Levy, A chave de casa, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Editora Record, 2007. Cecilia Giannetti, Lugares que não conheço pessoas que nunca vi, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Agir, 2007. Eduardo Baszczyn, Desamores, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: 7 Letras, 2007. Tiago Novaes, Estado vegetativo, São Paulo, SP: Callis, 2007. Wesley Peres, Casa entre vértebras, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Editora Record, 2007.

Prize Administrators Board of Trustees: Virna Teixeira, Marcos Kirst, Marino Lobello, Frederico Barbosa, and Antonio Vicente Pietroforte Initial Jury: Ivana Arruda Leite, Marcia Elisa Garcia de Grandi, Marcia Tiburi, Paula Fábrio, Evandro Affonso Ferreira, Horácio Costa, Michel Sleiman, Cláudio Daniel, Julio Cesar Pimentel Pinto Filho, and Marcelino Freire Final Jury: Bernardo Ajzenberg, Fabio de Souza Andrade, Marisa Lajolo, José Castello, and Samuel Seibel

2009 São Paulo Prize for Literature The 2009 São Paulo Prize for Literature received 217 novels submissions by 75 publishers and 13 independent authors, (an increase of 48% over the previous year). From those submissions, the initial jury selected ten finalists for each category (an increase from five the previous year), which were announced on 30 May 2009, at the Second Festival da Mantiqueira. Included among the finalists was one book with two authors. All entries were first published in Brazil in 2008.

The winners selected by the final jury were announced on 3 August 2009 at a ceremony at the Museum of the Portuguese Language. The announcement was made by the Governor of São Paulo, José Serra, and the Secretary of Culture of the State of São Paulo, João Sayad. The ceremony was also attended by the Mayor of São Paulo city, Gilberto Kassab, São Paulo State Secretary of Education, Paulo Renato Souza, São Paulo State Secretary of Institutional Relations, José Henrique Reis Lobo, the Coordinator of the Unit for Promotion and Diffusion of Cultural Production of the SEC, André Sturm, and several prominent literary figures in addition to the 20 finalists.

Shortlist for Best Book of the Year Ronaldo Correia de Brito, Galiléia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Editora Objetiva, 2008. Carola Saavedra, Flores azuis, São Paulo, SP: Companhia das Letras, 2008. João Gilberto Noll, Acenos e Afagos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Editora Record, 2008. José Saramago, A Viagem do Elefante (English translation: The Elephant's Journey), São Paulo, SP: Companhia das Letras, 2008. Lívia Garcia-Roza, Milamor, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Editora Record, 2008. Maria Esther Maciel, O Livro dos Nomes, São Paulo, SP: Companhia das Letras, 2008. Milton Hatoum, Órfãos do Eldorado (English translation: The Orphans of Eldorado), São Paulo, SP: Companhia das Letras, 2008. Moacyr Scliar, Manual da Paixão Solitária, São Paulo, SP: Companhia das Letras, 2008. Silviano Santiago, Heranças, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Rocco, 2008. Walther Moreira Santos, O Ciclista, Belo Horizonte, MG: Autêntica, 2008.

Shortlist for Best Book of the Year – Debut Author Altair Martins, A Parede no Escuro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Editora Record, 2008. Contardo Calligaris, O Conto do Amor, São Paulo, SP: Companhia das Letras, 2008. Estevão Azevedo, Nunca o Nome do Menino, São Paulo, SP: Terceiro Nome, 2008. Francisco Azevedo, O Arroz De Palma, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Editora Record, 2008. Javier Arancibia Contreras, Imóbile, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: 7 Letras, 2008. Marcus Freitas, Peixe Morto, Belo Horizonte, MG: Autêntica, 2008. Maria Cecília Gomes dos Reis, O Mundo Segundo Laura Ni, São Paulo, SP: Editora 34, 2008. Rinaldo Fernandes, Rita no Pomar, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: 7 Letras, 2008. Sérgio Guimarães, Zé, Mizé, Camarada André, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Editora Record, 2008. Vanessa Barbara and Emilio Fraia, O Verão do Chibo, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Objetiva, 2008.

Prize Administrators Board of Trustees: Antonio Dimas, Beth Brait, Julio Cesar Pimentel Pinto Filho, Manuel da Costa Pinto, and Marino Lobello (who also served on the board of trustees for the 2008 prize). Initial Jury: Ivan Marques (professor), Marcos Moraes (professor), Menalton Braff (author and a finalist for the 2008 prize), Fernando Paixão (author), Paula Fabrio (bookseller), José Carlos Honório (bookseller), Marcelo Pen (literary critic), Josélia Aguiar (literary critic), Márcia de Grandi (reader), and Mario Vitor Santos (reader). Final Jury: Cristóvão Tezza (author of the winning entry for the 2008 prize), Luis Antonio Giron (literary critic), Walnice Nogueira Galvão (professor), Aldo Bocchini (bookseller), and Claudiney Ferreira (reader).

2010 São Paulo Prize for Literature The list of ten finalists for each category chosen by the initial jury for the 2010 São Paulo Prize for Literature was officially announced at the Festival da Mantiqueira in São Francisco Xavier, São Paulo on 29 May 2010 by Governor Alberto Goldman. The finalists included Bernardo Carvalho, who made his second appearance, having previously made the list in 2008, and Ivana Arruda Leite, who had served on the initial jury for the 2008 prize.

There were originally 217 entries under consideration by the initial jury. All entries were first published in Brazil in 2009. The winners selected by the final jury were granted their awards by the Secretary of Culture of the State of São Paulo, Andrea Matarazzo, on behalf of the Governor of São Paulo, on 2 August 2010 at a ceremony at the Museum of the Portuguese Language.

Shortlist for Best Book of the Year Raimundo Carrero, A Minha Alma É Irmã de Deus, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Editora Record, 2009. Bernardo Carvalho, O Filho da Mãe, São Paulo, SP: Companhia das Letras, 2009. Chico Buarque, Leite Derramado (English title: Spilt Milk), São Paulo, SP: Companhia das Letras, 2009. João Ubaldo Ribeiro, O Albatroz Azul, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Nova Fronteira, 2009. Luiz Ruffato, Estive em Lisboa e Lembrei de Você, São Paulo, SP: Companhia das Letras, 2009. Ondjaki, AvóDezanove e o Segredo do Soviético (English title: Granma Nineteen and the Soviet's Secret), São Paulo, SP: Companhia das Letras, 2009. Paulo Rodrigues, As Vozes do Sótão, São Paulo, SP: Cosac Naify, 2009. Reinaldo Moraes, Pornopopeia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Editora Objetiva, 2008. Ricardo Lísias, O Livro dos Mandarins, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Alfaguara, 2009. Rodrigo Lacerda, Outra Vida, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Alfaguara, 2009.

Shortlist for Best Book of the Year – Debut Author Edney Silvestre, Se Eu Fechar os Olhos Agora (English title: If I Close My Eyes Now), Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Editora Record, 2009. Brisa Paim Duarte, A morte de Paula D., Maceió, AL: EDUFAL: Faculdade de Letras, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, 2009. Carlos de Brito e Mello, A Passagem Tensa dos Corpos, São Paulo, SP: Companhia das Letras, 2009. Carol Bensimon, Sinuca Embaixo D'Água, São Paulo, SP: Companhia das Letras, 2009. Cíntia Lacroix, Sanga Menor, Porto Alegre, RS: Dublinense, 2009. Claudia Lage, Mundos de Eufrásia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Editora Record, 2009. Ivana Arruda Leite, Hotel Novo Mundo, São Paulo, SP: Editora 34, 2009. Ivone Castilho Benedetti, Immaculada, São Paulo, SP: WMF Martins Fontes, 2009. Lívia Sganzerla Jappe, Cisão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ: 7 Letras, 2009. Maria Carolina Maia, Ciranda de Nós, São Paulo, SP: Grua Livros, 2009.

Prize Administrators Board of Trustees: