Paulo Coelho is one of the most famous and widely read Brazilian writers in the world. His work covers several genres, such as romance, fiction, police investigation, mysticism and self-help. He is also a lyricist, journalist and composer. He was elected to the Brazilian Academy of Letters in 2002.

Below, we present a brief biography of the author. Paulo Coelho was born in Rio de Janeiro on August 24, 1947, into an upper-class and religious family. Since he was a child, he enjoyed writing and participated in poetry and theater competitions at the Jesuit school Santo Inácio. His parents did not support his literary vocation and admitted him to a psychiatric hospital three times, where he was subjected to electroshock treatments.

In his youth, Paulo Coelho joined the hippie movement and traveled through Brazil and South America. He experimented with drugs and became interested in the occult and alternative religions. He entered law school, but dropped out to dedicate himself to art.

He worked as an actor, theater director and journalist. In 1974, he met musician Raul Seixas, with whom he formed a partnership that yielded several Brazilian rock hits, such as "Gita", "Eu Nasci Há Dez Mil Anos Atrás" and "Al Capone". In 1986, Paulo Coelho made a pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, in Spain, which marked his spiritual life and his career as a writer.

The following year, he published his first book, "The Diary of a Wizard", where he recounts his experience on the journey. In 1988, he released "The Alchemist", his most famous novel, which tells the story of a young shepherd who searches for treasure in Egypt and finds love and wisdom. The book became a worldwide bestseller and has been translated into more than 80 languages.

Since then, Paulo Coelho has published more than 30 books, including "Brida", "Veronika Decides to Die", "O Zahir", "O Aleph" and "Adultery". His works cover themes such as love, faith, destiny, dreams, magic and mystery. He is considered one of the most influential authors today and has sold more than 200 million copies worldwide. Paulo Coelho received several awards and decorations throughout his career, such as the Golden Feather (2005), the Knight of the Legion of Honor of France (2000) and the Official of Arts and Letters of France (2003).

He also participates in social and cultural projects, such as the Paulo Coelho Institute, which helps needy young people and elderly people, and the Paulo Coelho & Christina Oiticica Foundation, which supports environmental preservation. Paulo Coelho has been married to artist Christina Oiticica since 1980. They live between Brazil and Switzerland. The writer also has an adopted daughter named Moira.

He is an adherent of Buddhism and Jewish Kabbalah. We hope this article has been useful for you to learn a little more about the life and work of Paulo Coelho.