Thanks to the international recognition of the film, the book continued to be translated into several more languages, including Italian, French, Spanish and German.

The book is named after the favela in which the novel takes place, Cidade de Deus.

Cidade de Deus was established in 1960 in the western zone of Rio de Janeiro as part of a government strategy to systematically move favelas away from the city centre and relocate inhabitants to the suburbs.

In the 1970s, cocaine arrives and takes its place in the criminals' lives, both dealing and consuming vast amounts.

Written laws do not apply; power is held by criminals and drug lords who rule the favela.