published by companhia das letras, ela é carioca: uma enciclopedia de ipanema (she is carioca: an encyclopedia of ipanema), by ruy castro is a comprehensive encyclopedia of ipanema, including 231 profiles of the most significant people, places and institutions in the history and development of the effervescent district.

each profile is a literary work in its own right, a fascinating panel in the tapestry of the entire work - the text is full of spell-binding, funny and emotive stories which go some way towards representing ipanema's rebellious spirit, which famously heralded pleasure above convention, as well as the mythic quality that surrounds the region.

throughout the twentieth century, this district played a role of astounding significance in rio's economic, social and cultural development, and came in many ways to embody the carioca spirit.