Sergio Y
2018 Longlist

Sergio Y.

Translated from the Portuguese by Alex Ladd

ABOUT
THE BOOK

A startling and inspirational work of transgender fiction by a leading figure in Brazil’s “New Urban” fiction movement.

Armando is one of the most renowned therapists in São Paulo. One of his patients, a 17-year-old boy by the name of Sergio, abruptly interrupts his course of therapy after a trip to New York. Sergio’s cursory explanation to Armando is that he has finally found his own path to happiness and must pursue it.

For years, without any further news of Sergio, Armando wonders what happened to his patient. He subsequently learns that Sergio is living a happy life in New York and that he is now a woman, Sandra. Not long after this startling discovery, however, Armando is shocked to read about Sandra’s unexpected death. In an attempt to discover the truth about Sergio and Sandra’s life, Armando starts investigating on his own.

Sergio Y. is a unique and moving story about gender, identity, and the search for happiness.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Alexandre
Vidal Porto

Alexandre Vidal Porto was born in São Paulo. A career diplomat, a Harvard-trained lawyer, and a human rights activist, he writes a regular column for Folha de S. Paulo. His fiction has appeared in some of the most respected literary publications in Brazil and also abroad. Sergio Y. was the winner of the Parana Literary Prize for best novel.

Alexandre Vidal Porto was born in São Paulo. A career diplomat, a Harvard-trained lawyer, and a human rights activist, he writes a regular column for Folha de S. Paulo. His fiction has appeared in some of the most respected literary publications in Brazil and also abroad. Sergio Y. was the winner of the Parana Literary Prize for best novel.

NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

Literary subtlety in beautiful nuances, simple writing but so very powerful, this book tackles sensitive issues in beautiful prose. Complex, intriguing and thoughtful, it is not an easy reading book; notwithstanding it seems to be the perfect one for our present troubled era. An era when accepting one another as different as we are, is so hard, so unbearable. To deal with oneself sometimes may be liberating, even exhilarating, but devastating as well. Read and find out why Alexandre Vidal Porto has conquered one of the most prestigious literary Brazilian awards, the Parana Literary Prize for best novel.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Date published
03/05/2016
Country
Brazil
Original Language
Portuguese
Publisher
Europa Editions
Translator
Alex Ladd
Translation
Translated from the Portuguese by Alex Ladd

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