The Alchemist was first published in the year 1988 in Portuguese language by its Brazilian-born author. It has been translated in 80 languages. Synopsis The protagonist of the story, a young Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago, is plagued with recurring dreams, wherein a mysterious child urges him to look for buried treasure at the base of the Egyptian pyramids. Determined, he leaves Spain and heads towards Egypt. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. It is a story that urges us to believe in our dreams and listen to our hearts. It is written in a simple and straight forward language. It is a short read and is an infectious read. About the Author Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist. He was born in Brazil and attended a Jesuit School. In 1982, Coelho published his first book, Hell Archives. He is a recipient of numerous international awards; among them is the Crystal Award by the World Economic Forum. Coelho also worked as an actor, journalist, and theatre director before pursuing his writing career.
