CoelhoPaulo.com is contemporary writer whose work translated into many languages and whose work is accepted by many nations.
Home Page Biography Books Links Forum	Paulo Coelho Early Years Brazilian Paulo Coelho is one of the most uncommon writers in the world. Since 1988, from the moment he published a well-known "Alchemist", his novels translated into 52 languages, have been included into the category of the cult ones and for today more than thirty five millions books have already been sold in 140 countries of the world. Paulo Coelho was born in Rio de Janeiro on August, 24, 1947 in the family of an engineer. Since the childhood he has dreamed of becoming a writer. But in the 60-s in Brazil art was forbidden by military dictatorship. Worrying about the future of their son and trying to protect him from prosecutions of the authorities, parents send 17-years Paulo in a psychiatric hospital. Having left the hospital, Coelho became a hippie. He read different books without analysis - from Marx and Lenin up to "Bhagavat-gita". Besides it Paulo writes texts of anarchical songs which due to a rock-star Raul Seixas made Coelho suddenly rich and well-known. He worked as a journalist in the newspaper, was engaged in theatrical direction and dramatic art. But soon Coelho was accused of blasting antigovernmental activity, for what he was arrested three times and subjected to tortures. Having left the prison, Coelho tried to work, but was dismissed without any explanations. And then he decided to travel. The casual meeting in Amsterdam resulted in his meeting with the Catholic Order RAM which was created in 1492. There Paulo learned to understand a language of signs and omens meeting on our way. Being sent in pilgrim travel to Santiago de Compostella, Coelho overcame 80 kilometers on a legendary track of pilgrims. Later it he described this travel in his first book "Pilgrimage" issued in 1987. Soon it was followed by the second one - the "Alchemist" which brought to the author world popularity. "Alchemist" till now remains the most sold book in a history of Brazil and even it was mentioned in the Guinness Record Book.