A 2012 World Book Night selection.

If you have only recently discovered Coelho, or if you have yet to discover this utterly brilliant and breathtaking author, who until quite recently was one of the world’s most unsung authors then jump into one of his novels right now and The Alchemist was his first. His books have such a rare quality that if you have a heart you can’t fail to be captivated.

Synopsis

This is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who dreams of travelling the world in search of a worldly treasure as fabulous as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers, and from there into the Egyptian desert, where a fateful encounter with the alchemist awaits him.

With Paulo Coelhos visionary blend of spirituality, magical realism and folklore, The Alchemist is a story with the power to inspire nations and change peoples lives.

Reviews

The Alchemist is a beautiful book about magic, dreams and the treasures we seek elsewhere and then find on our doorstep. MADONNA

Coelhos writing is beautifully poetic but his message is what counts he gives me hope and puts a smile on my face. DAILY EXPRESS

I love The Alchemist. OPRAH WINFREY

About the Author

Paulo Coelho was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August 1947. He attended law school there but abandoned his studies in 1970 to travel throughout Mexico, Peru, Bolivia and Chile, as well as Europe and North Africa.   Two years later he returned to Brazil and began writing popular music lyrics. After a brief imprisonment in 1974 for alleged subversive activities against the Brazilian government, Coelho worked for five years for the recording departments of Polygram and CBS. Between 1981 and 1986 he studied with the order of RAM, an ancient, religious Spanish society. Now a literary phenomenon, he has sold over 65 million books world-wide and has been translated into 60 languages. He has received numerous literary awards from a variety of countries and his books have become permanent fixtures on the bestseller lists of countries as diverse as Brazil, the UK, the USA, France, Italy, Germany and Greece.   Click here to download Paulo Coelho's podcasts about his books.   Author photo © Paul Macleod 2007   More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation