On Earth As It Is Beneath

Shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2026! From one of the most distinctive and powerful voices in contemporary Brazilian fiction comes a searing, unforgettable allegory of power, violence, and institutional corruption: On Earth As It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia.

About the Book: Where justice ends, the hunt begins. On historic land where enslaved people were once brutally tortured and murdered, the state built an inescapable penal colony deep in the wilderness—supposedly designed for rehabilitation, but operating as a concrete trap. Now, decades later, as the prison winds down its operations, a horrifying new tradition is unleashed.

On every full-moon night, the inmates are released into the wilderness, and the warden arms himself with rifles. The hunt begins. Desperate to survive, every man plans his escape, never knowing if his end will come from a familiar face within the prison ranks or from the unknown dangers lurking beyond the compound walls. Hailed by the Booker Prize Judges as "a stark, unsettling exploration of power, violence and institutional corruption that will linger long after the final page," this is Ana Paula Maia’s most urgent, gripping, and uncompromising work yet.

Key Features & Benefits:

• International Booker Prize Shortlist: Recognized globally as one of the finest works of translated fiction.

• Critically Acclaimed: Winner of the English Pen Translates Award and heavily praised by major literary critics, including the New York Times and Booker Prize judging panel.

• Searing Allegory: A dark, thought-provoking examination of systemic violence, state corruption, and human survival.

• Distinctive Translation: Brings a powerful, unique voice from contemporary Brazilian literature to English-speaking readers.

• The Perfect Gift: An essential, gripping read for fans of literary fiction, dark political allegories, and intense psychological thrillers.