Biography of Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 24,

1947. Before becoming the most widely published Brazilian author
of all timepublishing close to 100 million bookshe worked as a
theatre director, an actor and a journalist. In the 1970's, Coelho was
also a successful songwriter whose songs were sung by such well-
known brazilian singers as Elis Regina, Rita Lee and, most notably,
Brazilian psychadelic rock pioneer Raul Seixas. Seixas and Coelho
recieved wide commercial and critical acclaim for their songs "Eu
Nasci H Dez Mil Anos Atrs," "Gita," "Al Capone" as well as 60
other songs. Also during this time, Coelho travelled the world as
part of the hippy movement and became more and more interested in
Eastern religions as well as occultism in general.
Coelho's definitive spiritual turn, however, came when he made a
pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, a catholic
pilgrimage route in the north-western Spanish state of Galicia. This
journey is documented in his book, The Pilgrimage (O Dirio de um
Mago), released in 1988. His next book was The Alchemist (O
Alquimista), a book which he claims is a metaphorical adaptation of
his own spiritual journey that he undertook on his pilgrimage.
Clearly, the name of the protagonist in The Alchemist is a nod to
Coelho's experience on the Camino de Santiago. While sales of The
Alchemist were slow at first, it went on to become the highest-selling
Brazilian book of all time and one of the most widely read books in
the world.
Since publishing The Alchemist, Coelho has gone on to publish other
titles including Brida (1990), The Valkyries (As Valkrias, 1992), By
the river Piedra I sat Down and Wept (Na margem do rio Piedra eu
sentei e chorei, 1994), The Fifth Mountain (O Monte Cinco, 1996),
Manual of a Warrior of Light (O Manual do Guerreiro da Luz,
1997), Veronika decides to die (Veronika decide morrer, 1998), The
Devil and Miss Prym, (O demnio e a Srta. Prym, 2000), Eleven
Minutes (Onze Minutos, 2003), The Zahir (O Zahir, 2005), The
Witch of Portobello (A Bruxa de Portobello, 2006) and, most
recently, The Winner Stands Alone (O Vencedor Est S, 2008). In
addition to his books, Coelho also has a weekly column which is
published in several Brazilian newspapers and is syndicated
internationally.
Coelho is not only an internationally acclaimed author, but is also an
outspoken activist for peace and social justice. He is a Messenger of
Peace for the UN, an Ambassador to the European Union for
Intercultural Dialogue, a Member of the Board of the Shimon Peres
Institute for Peace, a UNESCO Special Counselor for Intercultural
Dialogues and Spiritual Convergences," and a Board Member of the
Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. He is also a
member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters, the highest honor for a
Brazilian author, and is one of the best-known authors to actively
support the free distribution of his work.
Paulo Coelho and his wife Christina split their time between Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil and Saint Martin, Hautes-Pyrnes, France.
Biografa de Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho en la cabeza

Paulo Coelho naci en Ro de Janeiro, Brasil, el 24 de agosto de 1947. Antes de convertirse en el

autor brasileo ms ampliamente publicada de todos los tiempos, la publicacin de cerca de 100
millones de libros-trabaj como director de teatro, actor y periodista. En la dcada de 1970,
Coelho fue tambin un exitoso compositor cuyas canciones fueron cantadas por tales cantantes
brasileos conocidos como Elis Regina, Rita Lee y, sobre todo, pionero de rock psicodlico
brasileo Raul Seixas. Seixas y Coelho recibimos el aplauso de pblico y crtica por sus canciones
"Eu Nasci H Dez Mil Anos atras", "Gita", "Al Capone", as como otras 60 canciones. Tambin
durante este tiempo, Coelho recorri el mundo como parte del movimiento hippie y se hizo cada
vez ms interesado en las religiones orientales, as como el ocultismo en general.

A su vez espiritual definitiva de Coelho, sin embargo, vino cuando hizo una peregrinacin por el
Camino de Santiago de Compostela, una ruta de peregrinacin catlica en el estado espaol
noroccidental de Galicia. Este viaje se documenta en su libro, La Peregrinacin (O Dirio de um
Mago), publicado en 1988. Su siguiente libro fue El alquimista (O Alquimista), un libro que afirma
que es una adaptacin metafrica de su propio viaje espiritual que llev a cabo en su
peregrinacin. Claramente, el nombre de la protagonista en El Alquimista es un guio a la
experiencia de Coelho en el Camino de Santiago. Mientras que las ventas de El alquimista eran
lentos al principio, que se convirti en el libro brasileo ms vendido de todos los tiempos y uno
de los libros ms ledos en el mundo.

Desde la publicacin de El Alquimista, Coelho ha pasado a publicar otros ttulos incluyendo Brida
(1990), Las Valkirias (Como Valkirias, 1992), A orillas del ro Piedra me sent y llor (Na Margem do
rio Piedra eu Sentei e chorei, 1994) , La Quinta Montaa (O Monte Cinco, 1996), Manual del
Guerrero de la Luz (Manual de O hacer Guerreiro da Luz, 1997), Veronika decide morir (Veronika
decidir morrer, 1998), El demonio y la seorita Prym, (o demonio ea Srta. Prym, 2000), once
minutos (Onze Minutos, 2003), El Zahir (O Zahir, 2005), La bruja de Portobello (A Bruxa de
Portobello, 2006) y, ms recientemente, El vencedor est solo (O Vencedor ESTA es as, 2008).
Adems de sus libros, Coelho tambin tiene una columna semanal que se publica en varios
peridicos brasileos y est sindicado a nivel internacional.

Coelho no es nicamente un autor de renombre internacional, pero tambin es un destacado

activista por la paz y la justicia social. l es un Mensajero de la Paz de la ONU, un embajador de la
Unin Europea para el Dilogo Intercultural, un miembro de la Junta Directiva del Instituto Shimon
Peres por la Paz, un asesor especial de la UNESCO para "Dilogos Interculturales y Convergencias
espirituales", y un miembro de la Junta de la Fundacin Schwab para el Emprendimiento Social. l
es tambin un miembro de la Academia brasilea de Letras, el ms alto honor para un autor
brasileo, y es uno de los autores ms conocidos de apoyo activo a la distribucin gratuita de su
trabajo.

Paulo Coelho y su esposa Christina dividen su tiempo entre Ro de Janeiro, Brasil y San Martn,
Altos Pirineos, Francia.