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The Alchemist
Cover of The Alchemist
The Alchemist
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AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • OVER 80 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE

"Translated into 80 languages, the allegory teaches us about dreams, destiny, and the reason we are all here."—Oprah Daily, "Best Self-Help Books of a Generation"

"It's a brilliant, magical, life-changing book that continues to blow my mind with its lessons. [...] A remarkable tome."—Neil Patrick Harris, actor

A special 25th anniversary edition of the extraordinary international bestseller, including a new foreword by Paulo Coelho.

Combining magic, mysticism, wisdom, and wonder into an inspiring tale of self-discovery, The Alchemist has become a modern classic, selling millions of copies around the world and transforming the lives of countless readers across generations.

Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. Santiago's journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.

"A magical little volume."—San Francisco Chronicle

"[This] Brazilian wizard makes books disappear from stores."—The New York Times

"A sweetly exotic tale for young and old alike."—Publishers Weekly

AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • OVER 80 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE

"Translated into 80 languages, the allegory teaches us about dreams, destiny, and the reason we are all here."—Oprah Daily, "Best Self-Help Books of a Generation"

"It's a brilliant, magical, life-changing book that continues to blow my mind with its lessons. [...] A remarkable tome."—Neil Patrick Harris, actor

A special 25th anniversary edition of the extraordinary international bestseller, including a new foreword by Paulo Coelho.

Combining magic, mysticism, wisdom, and wonder into an inspiring tale of self-discovery, The Alchemist has become a modern classic, selling millions of copies around the world and transforming the lives of countless readers across generations.

Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. Santiago's journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.

"A magical little volume."—San Francisco Chronicle

"[This] Brazilian wizard makes books disappear from stores."—The New York Times

"A sweetly exotic tale for young and old alike."—Publishers Weekly

Available formats-
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB eBook
Languages:-
Copies-
  • Available:
    2
  • Library copies:
    2
Levels-
  • ATOS:
  • Lexile:
    910
  • Interest Level:
  • Text Difficulty:
    4 - 5


About the Author-
  • One of the most influential writers of our time, Paulo Coelho is the author of thirty international bestsellers, including The Alchemist, Warrior of the Light, Brida, Veronika Decides to Die, and Eleven Minutes. He is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters and a United Nations Messenger of Peace. Paulo is the recipient of 115 international prizes and awards, among them, the Chevalier de l'Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur (Legion of Honor). Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1947, he soon discovered his vocation for writing. He worked as a director, theater actor, songwriter, and journalist. In 1986, a special meeting led him to make the pilgrimage to Saint James Compostela (in Spain). The Road to Santiago was not only a common pilgrimage but a turning point in his existence. A year later, he wrote The Pilgrimage, an autobiographical novel that is considered the beginning of his literary career. He lives in Geneva, Switzerland.

Reviews-
  • Publisher's Weekly

    July 2, 2001
    Brazilian writer Coelho has published five titles in 45 languages in 120 countries, and has sold 23 million books. It's easy to see why. This charming, simple and well-written allegory tells of a boy, Santiago, who has the imagination and courage to follow his "Personal Legend." Santiago finds fairy godfathers at many turns who help him learn to keep up his courage, and to read omens and his own heart. The book's inspirational message—follow your heart and do your own thing—is oblique enough, to allow readers to interpret it in any way they choose, with whatever degree and form of spirituality one adheres to: "To realize one's destiny is a person's only obligation." But apparently only men need apply; a woman's destiny is to wait for her hero to find his treasure and return home to her. The real treasure here is Jeremy Irons. His intriguing, subtle and powerful performance carries us along on the boy's adventures, into his confusions and insights, through discussions with kings and animals, through the desert and the sun and even through the philosophical passages. Based on the Harper San Francisco hardcover.

  • NEIL PATRICK HARRIS, ACTOR

    "It's a brilliant, magical, life-changing book that continues to blow my mind with its lessons. [...] A remarkable tome." — NEIL PATRICK HARRIS, ACTOR

    "it changed my whole life. I realized of all of the people who had conspired to get me to this place." — PHARRELL WILLIAMS, MUSICIAN AND SONG-WRITER

    "A wise and inspiring fable about the pilgrimage that life should be." — M. Scott Peck

    "An adventure story full of magic and wisdom." — Rudolfo Anaya, author of Bless Me, Ultima

    "A touching, inspiring fable." — Indianapolis Star

    "A magical little volume." — San Francisco Chronicle

    "[This] Brazilian wizard makes books disappear from stores." — New York Times

    "[His] books have had a life-enchanting effect on millions of people." — London Times

    "A beautiful story with a pointed message for every reader." — Joseph Girzone, author of Joshua

    "As memorable and meaningful as Saint-Exupery's The Little Prince." — Austin American-Statesman

    "A sweetly exotic tale for young and old alike." — Publishers Weekly

    "A most tender and gentle story. It is a rare gem of a book." — Gerald G. Jampolsky, M.D., co-author of Change Our Mind, Change Your Life

    "An entrepreneurial tale of universal wisdom we can apply to the business of our own lives." — Spencer Johnson, M.D., co-author of The One-Minute Manager

    "A remarkable tale about the most magical of all journeys: the quest to fulfill one's destiny." — Anthony Robbins, author of Awaken the Giant Within

Title Information+
  • Publisher
    HarperCollins
  • OverDrive Read
    Release date:
  • EPUB eBook
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Digital Rights Information+
  • Copyright Protection (DRM) required by the Publisher may be applied to this title to limit or prohibit printing or copying. File sharing or redistribution is prohibited. Your rights to access this material expire at the end of the lending period. Please see Important Notice about Copyrighted Materials for terms applicable to this content.

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