Who Wrote The Alchemist, When, and How Long Is It?
Written in two weeks, dropped by its first publisher, then read by millions
The Alchemist in brief
| Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
| Author | Paulo Coelho, born 1947 in Rio de Janeiro |
| Original title | O Alquimista |
| First published | 1988, Brazil |
| English edition | 1993, HarperCollins, translated by Alan R. Clarke |
| Length | About 160 to 200 pages; about 40,000 words |
| Reading time | About 3 to 4 hours |
| Written in | About two weeks |
| Record | Coelho named the most translated living author by Guinness World Records in 2009 |
Who is Paulo Coelho?
Paulo Coelho was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1947. As a young man he rebelled against his parents' plans for him to become a lawyer, wrote song lyrics for Brazilian rock musicians and worked as a journalist and actor. In 1986 he walked the ancient route across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela, an experience that changed his life and led to his first book, The Pilgrimage. The Alchemist came a year later.
↑ Back to the topThe first edition failed
A small Brazilian publisher printed only 900 copies of The Alchemist in 1988. They did not sell out, and after a year the publisher gave the rights back to Coelho. He found another Brazilian publisher, and this time the book slowly caught on through word of mouth. The real breakthrough came with the English translation in 1993, after which it became an international bestseller.
↑ Back to the topHow successful is it?
The Alchemist has been translated into around eighty languages and has sold well over 65 million copies, with some estimates far higher, making it one of the best-selling books of all time. In 2009 Guinness World Records named Coelho the most translated living author. Its fans have included musicians, actors and politicians, and it is now read in many schools.
↑ Back to the topHow long is The Alchemist?
Depending on the edition, it runs from about 160 to just over 200 pages. The chapters are short and the style simple, like a fable, so many people finish it in a single afternoon. It is often recommended as a first book for people learning English or reading in a second language.
↑ Back to the topThe Alchemist was written by Paulo Coelho, a Brazilian author, and first published in Portuguese as O Alquimista in 1988. The English translation by Alan R. Clarke followed in 1993.
It is short: about 160 to 200 pages, roughly 40,000 words, and most people read it in three to four hours.
More about The Alchemist
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