Carlo Calabrò’s novel Cemento e sangue, published by Marsilio across 279 pages, reframes the Brazilian metropolis of São Paulo through a stark noir lens, stripping away traditional folklore to expose a hyper-contemporary, brutal urban landscape. The book, priced at 17 Euros, serves as the author’s second noir work following his 2024 debut, Meccanica di un addio, which was a finalist for the Premio Scerbanenco.
Plot Dynamics and the Investigation of Everton Barros
The narrative centers on Everton Barros, a 32-year-old journalist who navigates the moral decay of São Paulo by bicycle while working for a media outlet owned by the powerful “Jabuticaba” publishing group. Barros’s routine changes when he discovers the body of his long-time friend and eco-activist Flávio Bloch near the polluted waters of the Pinheiros River.
Local police classify the death as a suicide and quickly close the investigation into the suspicious collapse of a residential building, attributing it to a gas leak. Despite pressure from his corporate-controlled employer, Barros investigates the incidents independently. His search brings him into contact with a diverse circle of figures, including ice cream vendors Henrique and Theo, his mother who lives with Alzheimer’s, and Beatriz Leitão, an administrative director and occasional romantic partner.
Political Themes and Urban Realism
The novel incorporates a nationalist political figure named Donato Abreu, whose platform promotes aggressive neoliberal policies. The character’s campaign philosophy is described as «Eliminate the poor, not poverty».
Having lived in São Paulo for over a decade, Calabrò uses the setting as a primary focal point rather than a background element. The story examines the sharp division between wealthy residents in secure high-rises and populations confined to favelas, while exploring how terms like urban regeneration and decorum intersect with real estate speculation and environmental crime.
Literary Reception and Genre Evolution
Through its portrayal of corporate influence and urban displacement, the text addresses the human cost of unbridled economic development and profit-driven city planning.
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