The Alchemist (novel)

The Alchemist  

1st edition cover
Author Paulo Coelho
Original title O Alquimista
Country Brazil
Language Portuguese
Genre(s) Psychological, Adventure, Novel, Drama
Publisher HarperTorch (Eng. trans)
Publication date 1988
Published in
English		 1993
Media type Print (hardback, paperback and iTunes)
Pages 167 pp (first English edition, hardback)
ISBN ISBN 0062502174 (first English edition, hardback)

The Alchemist (Portuguese: O Alquimista) is a bestseller novel that is the most famous work of author Paulo Coelho. It is a symbolic story that urges its readers to follow their dreams.

Originally published in Greece in 1988,[1] The Alchemist has been translated into 61 languages, a guinness world record for the book translated in most languages. It has sold more than 65 million copies in more than 150 countries, becoming one of the best-selling books in history.

Contents

Plot summary

Santiago, a boy living in Andalusia, leads a common life of travel through his trade of shepherding and entertains thoughts of marrying a merchant's daughter. One day he has a dream in which a child tells him to go to the Egyptian pyramids, a destination that will apparently lead to treasure. He consults a gypsy to interpret his dream, who simply tells him to go to the Pyramids to find the loot and asks for a tenth of his future treasure instead of a fee for her service. He becomes discouraged by this advice, yet she assures him that the wisest men would agree with the simplicity of this special case.

When Santiago finally reaches the Pyramids, he is attacked by the desert's inhabitants and has to admit that he is searching for a treasure there. One of them laughs and reveals that he once had a dream about finding treasure in the very church where Santiago first had the dream. Santiago then returns to the church and finds the treasure, thus realizing his dream.

Symbols

The Personal Legend is one's reason for living; essentially, one's goal in life. Everyone in the world has a Personal Legend; by reaching his/hers, he/she adds to the Soul of the World, or its purity.

Style

The style of writing is simplistic, with correlations to that of The Little Prince, fairy tales, or spiritual writings. The novel is narrated by omniscient narrator and the diction is related to stories/tales from the Qu'ran, the Bible, and spirituality.

Adaptations

A motion picture version has been in development at Warner Bros. since 2003, with Robert Schwartz and Stephen Storer producing, as a vehicle for Laurence Fishburne, although Coelho has stated on his website that he has tried to buy back the rights to the film for the sum of $5 million. Many have speculated that this is due to the development hell the movie had been mired in.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Laurence Fishburne and indie production company A-Mark Entertainment have bought the rights to make a movie version of the novel, with Fishburne set to direct. Since 2003 the adaptation had been set up at Warner Bros., as a vehicle for Fishburne (who also wrote the script), but the project had stalled.

At The 2008 Cannes Festival, (also reported in Empire magazine on 18/05/2008)[1] Harvey Weinstein Announced that the Film version of The Alchemist is to go ahead. Harvey Weinstein will produce with Laurence Fishburn Co-producing, directing and starring. Reportedly An "Academy Award-winning screenwriter" is in negotiations to write the script. It will have a reported budget of $60 million.

In his "To Die Alive is to Take Risks" interview with Beliefnet,[2] Coelho states that people often go to the movies, and after watching it, say that the book is much better. He reasons that people make the clearest film in their minds.

In July of 2008 as part of the anniversary celebration Apple Inc., iTunes offered a free download of the audiobook version of the book, read by actor Jeromy Irons

A theatrical adaptation has been produced and performed by the Cornish Theatre Collective

Anniversary

The 20th anniversary of the novel's publication was celebrated in the Theatre Palacio Valdés of Avilés, Asturias (Spain), with Coelho in attendance. The event was transmitted through the Internet.

Paulo Coelho signing books at the entrance of the Palacio Vadlés Theatre, 2008

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Paulo Coelho's Books and Dates
  2. ↑ Interview with Paulo Coelho

References

External links