The Alchemist Author Biography

Born to a Catholic family in Brazil in the year 1947, Paulo Coelho knew writing was his calling at a very young age. His devout parents, however, did not share his enthusiasm. They felt that writing was not a worthwhile choice of profession. As he grew up, Coelho’s rebellious views scandalized his conservative, conventional family who sent him to an asylum thrice. In 1970 he dropped out of law school, which he had joined against his wishes, and went on to travel through South America, North Africa, Mexico, and Europe. He subsequently returned to his homeland, and in 1972 began writing rock music lyrics. He embraced the hippie culture that had gained immense popularity at the time. Later, his political activism against the military regime in Brazil landed him in prison, where he endured torture. Once out of prison, he embarked on new journeys.

In 1986, Paulo Coelho met a man in a café who urged him to walk the 500-mile-long ancient road leading to Santiago de Compostela. This was the route taken by pilgrims in the Middle Ages as they traveled from France to Spain. Coelho, notably, was 39 at the time. This was a transformative spiritual experience for him, and he reconverted to Catholicism. His first book The Pilgrimage was based on this journey. After this, there was no looking back.