The Alchemist (novel)
Original Brazilian publication (publ. Rocco) | |
| Author | Paulo Coelho |
|---|---|
| Original title | O Alquimista |
| Illustrator | Paulo Coelho |
| Cover artist | Caravaggio, Narcissus, 1597–9 |
| Language | Portuguese |
| Genre | Quest, adventure, fantasy, bildungsroman |
| Publisher | HarperTorch (English translation) Originally a novel written in Portuguese |
Publication date | 1988 |
| Publication place | Brazil |
Published in English | 1993 |
| Media type | Print (hardback, paperback and iTunes), Audiobook (Audible) |
| Pages | 163 pp (first English edition, hardcover), 208 pages (25th Anniversary Edition) |
| ISBN | 0-06-250217-4 (first English edition, hardcover) |
| OCLC | 26857452 |
| 869.3 | |
| Preceded by | The Pilgrimage (1987) |
| Followed by | Brida (1990) |
The Alchemist (Portuguese: O Alquimista) is a novel by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho which was first published in 1988. Originally written in Portuguese, it became a widely translated international bestseller. The story follows Santiago, a shepherd boy, in his journey across North Africa to the Egyptian pyramids after he dreams of finding treasure there. It has since been translated into more than 65 languages and has sold more than 150 million copies worldwide. In 2009, Paulo Coelho was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world’s most translated living author.