Paulo Coelho (born August 24, 1947) is a lyricist and novelist.
He was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and attended law school there, but abandoned his studies in 1970 to travel throughout Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile, as well as Europe and North Africa. Two years later he returned to Brazil and began composing popular music lyrics, working with such popular musicians as Raul Seixas. he was imprisoned briefly in 1974 for alleged subversive activities against the Brazilian dictatorship.
He has sold over 20 million books worldwide and his works have been translated into 38 languages. He has received numerous literary awards from a variety of countries, including a nomination for the prestigious International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award for Veronika Decides to Die.
His other novels include The Alchemist, which sold more than 11 million copies worldwide and has been translated into some 41 languages; it is also a movie in progress produced by Lawrence Fishburne, who is a fan of Coelho. In addition he has written The Pilgrimage (which was the basis for a computer game, developed by the Arxel Tribe), By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept , and The Valkyries .
His books have appeared on bestseller lists in countries as diverse as Brazil, the United Kingdom, the USA, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, Israel, and Greece.
Despite all this public success, he is still seen by many critics in Brazil as a lesser author, whose work is too simple and similar to self-help books. Some even call his novels "commercial" and market-oriented. His election to the ABL (Brazilian Academy of Letters) is a very controversial subject among readers in Brazil.
He and his wife Christina live in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Last updated: 05-07-2005 05:07:52
Last updated: 05-13-2005 07:56:04
