''Estação Carandiru'' ("Carandiru Station") is a 1999 novel-memoir by Brazilian physician and AIDS specialist

Drauzio Varella Antônio Drauzio Varella (Brazilian Portuguese: ; born May 3, 1943 in São Paulo, Brazil) is a Brazilian doctor, educator, scientist and medical science popularizer in the press and TV, as well as best-selling author. In addition to medicine, ...

. The story is based on Varella's time as a physician volunteering at Carandiru Penitentiary in

São Paulo São Paulo (, ; Portuguese for ' Saint Paul') is the most populous city in Brazil, and is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest Brazilian state, located in the country's Southeast Region. Listed by the Ga ...

from 1989 up to the 1992 massacre which left 111 inmates dead, but is made up of fictionalized incidents and characters. With more than 500,000 copies sold, ''Estação Carandiru'' is one of the all-time best-sellers in Brazil and was adapted into the 2003 film '' Carandiru'' directed by

Héctor Babenco Héctor Eduardo Babenco (February 7, 1946July 13, 2016) was an Argentine-Brazilian film director, screenwriter, producer and actor who worked in several countries including Brazil, Argentina, and the United States. He was one of the first Braz ...

. Varella is portrayed by

Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos (born 25 June 1954) is a Brazilian actor. Selected filmography Film Television References External links * 1954 births Living people Brazilian male film actors {{Brazil-actor-stub ...

in the film. The book won the Brazilian literary award

Prêmio Jabuti The Prêmio Jabuti (the "Tortoise Prize") is the most traditional literary award in Brazil, given by the Brazilian Book Chamber (CBL). It was conceived by Edgard Cavalheiro in 1959 when he presided over the CBL, with the interest of rewarding autho ...

in 2000. The book, first in a trilogy, was followed by ''Carcereiros'' ("Jailers") in 2012 which chronicles prison life based on testimony of prison officials. ''Prisioneiras'' (" emalePrisoners"), about the women's prison in São Paulo, will end the trilogy.

References

1999 novels Brazilian crime novels Portuguese-language novels Brazilian novels adapted into films Carandiru Penitentiary Books about imprisonment {{Brazil-lit-stub