So many readers complained that they could not find his books
in Portuguese that Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho, one of the
world's bestselling authors, took an unheard of
decision: he put all of his 10 books online. For free.

Kirsten Weinoldt

When the ABL, Academia Brasileira de Letras, on October 28, 2002, chose Paulo Coelho as the newest member of its body of Brazilian writers, it raised more than a few eyebrows. Although translated into 56 languages and with a stunning sale of more than 53 million books, many critics find him light weight and only borderline literary. However, there is no doubt of his domestic and international success. He ranks among the ten best selling authors in the world. It is certainly of interest to take a closer look at this man, who has so many devotees and opponents.

"I believe in the concept of 'anima mundi' (soul of the world), where each person, through total dedication to what he does, comes into contact with the inspiration of the universe."

Paulo Coelho, a native Carioca (from Rio), was born on August 14, 1947. In school he won a poetry prize, and at the age of 17, he announced his intention to become a writer. His parents were very opposed to his decision, partly because of the state of censorship under the military dictatorship at the time, which often persecuted artists and intellectuals. Many of his contemporaries suffered imprisonment and torture for their opinions. Because of his rebellious behavior, his parents had him committed to a mental institution, where he received shock treatment. He escaped, but was brought back three times.

In the sixties, Paulo Coelho was an active participant in the counterculture of Brazil, experimenting with drugs and hanging out with rock musicians.

While still in his twenties, he achieved his goal of becoming a writer and worked as a playwright, theater director, journalist, and song writer—writing songs for Elis Regina and Raul Seixas.

In 1974, in Coelho's own words, "his life collapsed." He was arrested three times that year, the first time as an innocent bystander at a bank robbery, the second time for speaking out against the establishment at a pop concert. After he was released by the police, he was arrested a third time by paramilitaries who tortured him for a week.

Later in the seventies, he became an artistic director for CBS in Brazil. In 1979, however, he was suddenly fired without any explanation. The next two years were spent trying to get back into the music industry.

In the eighties, he went to Europe trying his luck there. He became acquainted with a Catholic sect dating back to 1492, which studies the language of symbols: RAM—Regnus Agnus Mundi. He progressed within the sect and attained the rank of magus. In 1986, on instructions from his mentor within RAM, Paulo Coelho went on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, in Spain.

Inspired by his trip, he wrote The Pilgrimage about his experiences on the 'Road of Santiago.' Then, in 1988 came the book that would make him internationally known, O Alquimista - The Alchemist, considered by many his classic work. It tells the story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy, who dreams of traveling the world to find treasure and sets out to realize his dream. Like most of his works, it attempts to tackle fundamental questions relating to the human condition—good versus evil, joy and despair, light and dark. It is a story about following one's destiny and being open to the universe of signs and symbols.

O Alquimista became a best seller—number one in 29 countries—and has gone on to sell over 11 million copies around the world. His books have since been translated into 56 languages and published in more than 150 countries. According to Publishing Trends magazine, The Alchemist was one of the top ten international bestsellers of 1998. Paulo Coelho has won more than 15 international awards for his writing, including the prized French award, the Insignia of Arts and Letters in 1996.

His writing has been praised by one critic, according to Paulo Coelho's own website, for its "symbolic language that does not speak to our brains, but to our hearts" and others have especially praised his poetic, realistic, and philosophical style. And certainly, the public has proved its loyalty by buying his books in droves.

The Times in the U.K. describes his books as 'life enchanting,' but critics in general tend to be more dismissive of the simplicity of his work, suggesting that he "panders to the lowest common denominator of new age gullibility," according to another British paper, The Guardian.

All of his books use symbols, dreams, and archetypes to convey simple but universal truths. Before starting a new book, he looks for a white feather. As he prints out the first draft, he touches the plume to each page.

Academia

The Academy dates back to ancient Greece, the year 387 B.C., near Athens, where the philosopher Plato founded the school dedicated to the muses and the hero Akademos. There, the teachings were informal through lessons and dialogues among the masters and the disciples. The philosopher intended to unite contributions from diverse areas of knowledge such as philosophy, mathematics, music, astronomy, and the law. The young followers gave continuity to this work, which came to constitute one of the most important chapters of the history of western knowledge. The school consisted of a library, a residence, and a garden.

Looking up the word in the Aurélio dictionary of the Portuguese language we have our first contact with the origin of the term and its multiple contemporary meanings. But what interests us here is underlining its ninth definition: in Brazil, when we refer simply to Academia, we're talking about the Academia Brasileira de Letras. That achievement in day-to-day lingo transforming the Academia de Letras into Academia par excellence, owes itself to its history, which along its hundred years of existence has succeeded, among its members, authors who contributed to the formation of Brazilian literature, literary and historical critics, social scientists, journalists, politicians, and scientists, whose work and professional life constitute a reference to their respective areas of excellence.

The creation of the Academia was the idea of a group of young writers realizing the initial proposals of Lúcio Mendonça and Medeiros e Albuquerque. In 1896, successive meetings in the editorial office of Revista Brasileira, then under the leadership of José Veríssimo, assumed the preparatory, formative sessions. On the 15^th of December, Machado de Assis was named president of the Academia Brasileira de Letras, and this had its leadership and its statutes defined on the 28^th of January, 1897.

Paulo Coelho was elected for chair number 21 of the Academy—originally occupied by black abolitionist José do Patrocínio—on the 25^th of July, 2002. He received 22 votes against the 15 obtained by the other candidate, sociologist Hélio Jaguaribe. The swearing-in of the writer was the third of the Academy of the year. Already sworn in were the jurist Raymundo Faoro, who holds chair number 6, and the writer Zélia Gattai, who succeeded her husband, the late Jorge Amado, in chair number 23.

The vote for Paulo Coelho into the ABL had one of the largest registered quorums in the history of the institution. In order to be a candidate for the vacancy, the writer had total support and incentive from another immortal: the academic Arnaldo Niskier.

When he first heard about the nomination, Paulo Coelho responded to the many critics, who find him less than literary and stated that "the Brazilian people knows how to choose."

Before taking possession of the chair at the ABL, he spoke about the upcoming ceremony and how the reading audience had made its choice. "Contrary to what people say," referring to the election of Lula for the presidency of the Republic, and to the critics who call him a bad writer in spite of having sold over 50 million copies around the world, according to his calculations, "I see the election with optimism and have confidence in the people, who know how to choose, contrary to what people say, because a large part of the critics who did not like my work, are the people who don't know how to choose or buy books."

He classified the electoral process as a "show of democracy." He did not reveal his vote and praised the eight years of Fernando Henrique's government. "He is a president the future will see as being just." With the ceremony, scheduled for 9 pm, he said he would be able to "expose more" of his soul and his sentiments in the sessions at the ABL. "I always participated in the political process, though not openly. The primary is with relation to the image of Brazil in the exterior, which is absolutely twisted."

Coelho, who maintains an institute for 320 children in Copacabana, where he lives, says that the fact that he is a celebrity, obligates him to have a political point of view. "I cannot change my country, my state, my city, or my neighborhood, but I can change my block," he said.

The writer explained that the choice of the Dia de São Judas Tadeu, known as the saint of the impossible, for the ceremony does not relate to the criticisms he receives. "He is the patron of possible causes, because I believe that everything you ask for will come true."

Posing for photos with the group before assuming the chair, something most academics refrain from doing, he anticipated passages of his discourse, in which he would quote Vinicius de Moraes, Gertrude Stein, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Recollections

The day of the induction, with a discourse that exalted utopia and faith, Paulo Coelho, 55, the youngest immortal of the Academy spoke about other occupants of the seat, such as the economist Roberto Campos, and quoted his old partner, Raul Seixas, the late singer. Coelho recollected a visit he made to the ABL when he was a student:

"What was a utopia of adolescence became, at the beginning of the 90's, a true heresy. But, with some heresies, this too was transformed into reality. I fought for that dream, confided in my friends, fought the good fight and maintained the faith. I learned with Jorge Amado that utopias are possible."

The gala was one of the most elegant of the Academy and attended by scores of dignitaries and members of the Academy.

At the beginning and the end of his speech, Coelho quoted a phrase from Saint Paul "Sic transit gloria mundi" (the glory of the world is transitory). He also made references to composer and poet Vinicius de Moraes, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malba Tahan. Speaking of Raul Seixas, he declared that the musician "well describes the happiness in the heart of the warriors, when he writes: I prefer being a walking metamorphosis to having that old formed opinion about everything."

He also referred to his predecessor in chair 21, economist Roberto Campos, and remembered how when he was young, he protested against "his economic politics" and later came to admire him. The author quoted a phrase by Campos "the violence of the arrow dignifies the target." And added: "Many times, in moments when I felt judged with excessive severity by the critics, I recalled that phrase. And I remembered the dream that I wasn't ready to give up: to one day be a member of the Academia Brasileira de Letras.

www.paulocoelho.com

The Paulo Coelho website is a generous collection of information and free downloads in a number of languages. For instance, in Portuguese, fans can download the entire version of O Alquimista, 92 pages and all the other books Coelho wrote. In English the download possibilities are more limited, but perhaps that is just a matter of time. One can also email Mr. Coelho, and someone actually answers questions. A prompt and friendly answer arrived a few hours after the undersigned requested permission to use excerpts from the website for this article, and the request was granted. The following is the prologue of The Alchemist downloaded from the website.

The Alchemist picked up a book that someone in the caravan had brought. Leafing through the pages, he found a story about Narcissus. The Alchemist knew the legend of Narcissus, a youth who daily knelt beside a lake to contemplate his own beauty. He was so fascinated by himself that, one morning, he fell into the lake and drowned. At the spot where he fell, a flower was born, which was called the narcissus. But this was not how the author of the book ended the story.

He said that when Narcissus died, the Goddesses of the Forest appeared and found the lake, which had been fresh water, transformed into a lake of salty tears.

"Why do you weep?" the Goddesses asked.

"I weep for Narcissus," the lake replied.

"Ah, it is no surprise that you weep for Narcissus," they said, "for though we always pursued him in the forest, you alone could contemplate his beauty close at hand."

"But…. Was Narcissus beautiful?" the lake asked.

"Who better than you to know that?" the Goddesses said in wonder, "After all, it was by your banks that he knelt each day to contemplate himself!!"

The lake was silent for some time.

Finally it said:

"I weep for Narcissus, but I never noticed that Narcissus was beautiful. I weep because, each time he knelt beside my banks, I could see, in the depths of his eyes, my own beauty reflected."

"What a lovely story," the alchemist thought.

The website appears, in addition to Portuguese, in Spanish, English, Italian, French, Russian, German, Farsi, Japanese, Polish, Romanian, Chinese, Czech, and Arabic. That makes it a widely readable website for the majority of the world population. It includes a biography, books for free download, a photo section, meditations—a section with thought provoking and calming quotes for personal, quiet moments. It also lists Coelho's books as well as the different editions, a TV online section with footage from a variety of television appearances by the author, and the agenda for the author with his appearances around the world.

There is a section of FAQ (frequently asked questions), a chapter describing the Paulo Coelho Institute, its purpose and charter as well as information on how to support the institution with money or computers. There is press information for those whose intention it is to write about Paulo Coelho and his work. A chapter called Road to Santiago outlines the road Coelho himself took on his pilgrimage. And for those who want to send a literary e-card to someone, a multitude of photos of the author will make for a welcome card to any fan of his. For anyone new to the writings of Paulo Coelho, this website gives a diversity of knowledge about the man and his work.

What other People Have to Say:

If diverse commentary about a person is a sign of greatness, then certainly Paulo Coelho is great. There is hardly anyone in Brazil, who doesn't have a strong opinion about him and a willingness to utter it.

From Rodrigo Zavala at Folha online we find the following: "For almost a decade, I have heard literary critics touting the 'magician' Paulo Coelho as a fraud. Others don't even stoop to mentioning him in their columns in the cultural publications, according to the old saying that 'you don't kick a dead dog.' And, when questioned about the growing popularity of Coelho, they are categorical: "We're talking about popular cretinism."

Be that as it may, the cretinism appears to have arrived at the cultural elite. Elected to chair number 21 at the Academia Brasileira de Letras, Coelho had 22 votes while his adversary, sociologist Hélio Jaguaribe, received 15 votes. In spite of the 'dreadful literature' he has become a reference in the country.

Popular composer converted to writer against the media, Paulo Coelho reflects his own literary, contemporary image—easy, superstitious, and consoling. Writing, in which the verb to satisfy suffocates the rest—educate, entertain, transform—in the practice of imagery. In the triumph of the majority, who loses is the quality of the formation of the people.

One cannot deny that the work of Paulo Coelho is competent material for entertainment. Finally, it is an international success, contrary to what happens to the books of Carlos Heitor Cony, who always found 'the magician' deplorable.

At a time in which the Thinker (o Pensador) is Gabriel, literature and the ABL appear to have forgotten their role.

In the era of the sound-byte, it is only appropriate to provides bytes of a different kind, namely those excerpts from articles about Paulo Coelho and his works from around the world that describe how people feel about him.

"The success of Coelho's works [in Poland] is due to his extraordinary ability of presenting the everlasting problems of humanity using simple literary symbols. It is also because of the fact that every reader easily recognizes the spiritual closeness of the heroes." Magazyn Literacki [Literary Magazine], Poland, 12-13 October 2002

"The books of the Brazilian writer have made "magic realism" probably the most fashionable literary trend of a year." Expert, Russia, September 2002

"His success is an edition phenomenon, the most astonishing success in the latest years." Le Monde, France, March 1998

"One of the few to deserve the term publishing phenomenon." The Independent on Sunday, England, March 1998

"Paulo Coelho proposes in his books a model for individual spiritual search, stressing the great concerns of modern mankind." Le Courier de L'Unesco, France, March 1998

"Brazil Wizard makes books disappear from stores." The New York Times, US, December 1999

"Paulo Coelho writes books that capture the world." Neue Züricher Zeitung, Switzerland, August 1998

"As to the foreign literature, it is represented only by one author. But in five books, four of which take four uppermost lines of a rating. "Brazilian Magus" Paulo Coelho, for a long time already subdued Moscow, begins the triumphal procession on cities and villages of Russia…. Only because there were just five books by Paulo Coelho published…. Some places in our rating remained for the Russian writers." Kommersant-Weekend, Russia, November 2002

"Paulo Coelho represents the legend of a wise storyteller." Corriere della sera, Italy September 1995

"Paulo Coelho has, for a long time, been more than an average bestselling author. He is a global phenomenon, and mere logic can't explain the impact he makes. With Coelho the boundaries between reality and magic are dissolving—this trademark puts him in the same league with the very best of the South American literary tradition." Profil, Austria, February 2000

"Paulo Coelho exhibits an amazing virtue of transparency that makes his writing like a fresh stream running through a lush forest, a path of energy that inadvertently leads readers to themselves, toward their mysterious and faraway souls." Figaro Littéraire, France, May 1994

"By taking in hands Coelho's book, the reader is already doomed: He becomes an alchemist himself." Itogi Magazine, Russia, September 2002

"Paulo Coelho is an energetic and vital magician, who—with just a smile—transforms a rainy afternoon into a bright, sunny day." La Republica, Italy, October 2000

"If we thought that those were too big aspirations for such small book, Coelho has proved us wrong. From this we can clearly see that the key to the phenomenon of Coelho is knowing how to say the grand truths with simple words." El Periódico, Spain, March 2000.

"Paulo Coelho's strength lies undoubtedly in the fact of his simple, clear and pure language. Don't misunderstand: there is nothing more difficult to do than the simple, the clear, and the pure." Le Nouvel Observateur, France, May 1998

"The simplicity of Coelho's prose is very far from customary style of various samples of modern prose, where the primitiveness of ideas is packed into a motley fabric of eloquence." Nezavisimoya Gazeta, Russia, September 2002

"Paulo Coelho is the favorite writer of sports champions according to a survey in L'Equipe." Le Journal du dimanche, France, June 1998

"In this hard time for books, we have to admit that Coelho is one of the few authors who are able to stimulate people to turn off the TV and pick up a book." Vecernji List, Croatia, January 2000

"In Chile, as in so many other parts of the world, the writer Paulo Coelho has become without doubt, a true publishing phenomenon." La Nación, Chile, April 2001

"Paulo gives his readers a hint to find pleasure in life." An An, Japan, March 2001

"I have never seen such a long line, and I only wish that the day will come that people will stand in line like this for an Israeli author." Eri Stematzky, owner of the biggest chain of bookstores in Israel, October 1999

"Two thousand visitors patiently waited for the autograph of one writer, in a country where book print-runs are measured only by the hundreds." Slobodna Dalmacija, Croatia, March 2000

"Coelho does not so much address his readers as confide in them. His style is a kind of eavesdropping, full of lyrical whisperings and confessional asides." Sunday Express, UK, September 1999

"He doesn't consider himself a spiritual leader, he doesn't pretend to change the course of history nor the mentality of people, but he doesn't write only to entertain either; all his books are an instant and lasting success." Para Ti, Argentina, April 1999

"The books of the writer are therapeutic. They are inspirational. This is something that I have discovered reading from The Alchemist to Veronika." O Independente, Portugal, July 1999

"A poetic, realistic and philosophical style, a symbolic language not talking to our minds, but to our hearts." Gazzetta di Mantova, Italy, September 1999

"In his style, clear and simple and at the same time philosophic and transcending, Coelho offers a pile of reflections on the place of our personal dreams, wisdom, the battle between the feminine and masculine aspects of our personality, or a surprising relation between destiny and personal decisions." La Vanguardia, Spain, March 2000

"Coelho, unlike some other authors, does not write novels which are bought like relics not to be read… His books are not status symbols of the modern age, which—after the first glance—end up on shelves. Coelho is an author whose books are read, and whose ideas are practiced by ordinary people who in this way empower their spirituality." Globus Revija, Croatia, March 2000

Quotes

Over the years, Paulo Coelho has given countless interviews in a variety of media all over the world. His literary agent - www.santjordi-associados.com - has compiled ideas and statements he has made about a number of different subjects.

Greatest Virtue

I'm a brave person. He who dares, wins.

Greatest Failure

Lack of Patience

Hobby/entertainment

Walking

Catalytic Experience

I was close to the universe of madness

Source of Inspiration

People

Greatest Fear

Speaking in public

Greatest Hope

To carry on with my writing

Next Mountain

The one that happens to be in front of me

Friends

The greatest treasure in life

Women

From them one learns love in all its forms

Men

From them one learns discipline

Truth

A treacherous word. The only definition of truth is the word of Jesus Christ: "You will know truth, and truth shall set you free!"

Time

The present moment

Fame

An abstract notion for a writer

Fortune

Behind fortune there is always tragedy

Impossible

Again, a misleading word. People let themselves get discouraged, not because things are impossible, but because we actually want them to be. But nothing is impossible.

Happiness

The most mediocre thing in the world. I'd rather go by the idea of joy.

Work

Work equals passion

Beauty

The honesty of the soul

Serenity

It is not absence of movement, but absolute concentration
 

---

It appears that Mr. Coelho's inspiration stems from his involvement in the Regnus Agnus Mundi and his pilgrimage years ago. His website dedicates several pages to this determining event in his life with references to a multitude of things. It seems clear that he wants to share his experiences and inspiration with his readers and perhaps cause some of them to find a new path to improve their lives.

Under 'El Camino de Santiago' on the website, you will find a map—a clickable map of the Camino—by clicking on the proper icon. A UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) icon will take you to the Course Syllabus for Spanish 122. It is also possible to join an Internet Discussion Group on the Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Furthermore, one can search the archives of the Santiago listserv for historical and practical information on the Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela as well as visit the home of the American Association of Friends of the Road to Santiago for up-to-date information on the pilgrimage to Compostela today.

The website contains several links to UCLA, which has presented several programs regarding the subject. One is "Program of the Symposium on the Tomb of the Apostle in Santiago de Compostela," and there are others. 2002 also saw a UCLA Summer Study Abroad course on the history, literature, art, and architecture of the Camino in France and Spain, called "Pilgrim Roads to Santiago de Compostela," which took place in June and July of last year. The website advises that 'new pilgrims on the Road to Santiago should first learn about the difficulties of the Journey:'

"Everyone, then, must worship Santiago in all places, he who comes to the aid of those who receive him in all places without delay…. Now we are going to talk about the Route of the Pilgrims.

"The pilgrim route is a very good thing, but it is narrow. For the road which leads man to life is narrow; on the other hand, the road which leads to death is wide and spacious. The pilgrim route is for the good people: the lack of vices, the mortification of the body, the increase of virtues, pardon for sins, penitence for the penitent, the road of the just, love of the saints, faith in the resurrection and the reward for the blessed, distancing from Hell, protection of the Heavens. It takes one away from succulent foods, makes voracious obesity disappear, restrains voluptuousness, contains the appetites of the flesh which attack the fortress of the soul, purifies the spirit, invites man to the contemplative life, humbles the haughty, raises up the humble, loves poverty. It hates the censure of the man dominated by avarice. It loves, on the other hand, the person who gives to the poor. It rewards the austere who do good works; and, on the other hand, it does not snatch the miserly and sinful from the talons of sin."

Translated by John Dagenais

It appears that Paulo Coelho serves up more than just a passing element of entertainment to be forgotten when put down and offers to the reader a tool to shape and improve—intellectually and spiritually—his or her individual path in life.

Kirsten Weinoldt was born in Denmark and came to the U.S. in 1969. She fell in love with Brazil after seeing Black Orpheus many years ago and has lived immersed in Brazilian culture ever since. Her e-mail: kwracing@erols.com  
 

---

Major Prizes and Decorations:

"Best Fiction Corine International Award 2002 for The Alchemist (Germany, 2002).

"Club of Budapest Planetary Arts Award 2002" as recognition of his literary work (Germany, 2002).

"Bambi 2001 Award" (Germany, 2001)

"XXIII Premio Internazionale Fregene (Italy, 2001).

"Crystal Mirror Award" (Poland, 2000).

"Chevalier de l'Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur" (France, 1999).

"Crystal Award" World Economic Forum (1999)

"Golden Medal of Galicia" (Spain, 1999)

Finalist for "International IMPAC Literary Award" (Ireland, 2000 and 1997).

"Comendador de Ordem do Rio Branco" (Brazil, 1998).

"Golden Book" (Yugoslavia, '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, and 2000).

"Super Grinzane Cavour Book Award" (Italy, 1996)

"Flaiano International Award" (Italy, 1996)

"Knight of Arts and Letters" (France, 1996).

"Prix Lectrices d'Elle (France, 1995).
 

---

Bibliography

O Diário de um Mago (The Pilgrimage), 1986 - Paulo Coelho's first book describes the author's 1986 pilgrimage, along the Road to Santiago, in Spain.

O Alquimista (The Alchemist ), 1987 - Sheperd Santiago has a recurring dream: he must seek out a treasure buried near the pyramids in Egypt.

Brida (Brida), 1990 - The story of the Irish enchantress Brida O'Fern, and her path through the Wicca pagan tradition.

O Dom Supremo (The Gift), 1990 - Based on the book "The Greatest Thing in the World", which discusses St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians.

As Valkírias ( The Valkyries ), 1992 - An account of the 40 days the author and his wife, Chris, spend in the Mojave Desert in California.

Na Margem do Rio Piedra Eu Sentei e Chorei (By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept), 1994 - The story of a love encounter between Pilar and a seminarist, her childhood friend.

O Monte Cinco (The Fifth Mountain), 1996 - The exile of prophet Elijah, who is faced with the Syrian invasion.

O Manual do Guerreiro da Luz (Manual of the Warrior of the Light), 1996 - Selected texts published in newspapers.

Cartas de Amor do Profeta (Love Letters from a Prophet), 1998 - Love letters between Lebanese poet Kahlil Gibran, and American professor Mary Haskell.

Veronika decide Morrer (Veronika Decides to Die), 1998 _ Mental illness as seen by Veronika, Coelho's alter ego.

O Demônio e a Senhorita Prym (The Devil and Miss Prym), 2000 _ Meditation on intolerance and terrorism.

Histórias de Pais, Filhos e Netos (Fathers, Sons, and Grandsons), 2001 _ Collection of short stories.

His next project, for 2003, is a "book about sex"—Onze Minutos (Eleven Minutes), issue date for which is planned for April.

Discuss it in our Forum

Send your
comments to
Brazzil