Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian author whose symbolic and deeply spiritual stories have made him one of the world’s most beloved writers. Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1947, his early dream of becoming a writer was met with resistance from his parents, leading to a rebellious youth and a period of institutionalization. After working as a lyricist, journalist, and actor, a transformative pilgrimage on the Road of Santiago de Compostela in 1986 ignited his literary career, inspiring his first book, The Pilgrimage. His subsequent novel, The Alchemist, became a global phenomenon, selling over 85 million copies and being translated into more than 80 languages, earning him a Guinness World Record. His body of work, comprising over thirty international bestsellers, continues to captivate readers with timeless parables about following one’s dreams and listening to one’s heart.
