The Alchemist

Paulo Coelho

Oct 2005 · HarperAudio · Narrated by Jeremy Irons

About this audiobook

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho continues to change the lives of its readers forever. With more than two million copies sold around the world, The Alchemist has established itself as a modern classic, universally admired.

Paulo Coelho’s masterpiece tells the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found.

The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches us, as only a few stories can, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life’s path, and, above all, following our dreams.

Ratings and reviews

The book is average, however I gave it three stars because of Jeremy Irons' reading of it which made it infinitely more interesting than it would otherwise have been.

Jeremy Irons could make an Excel spreadsheet sound like an epic poem. The parable is sweet, and full of hope. Really short for the amount of $, though.

I agree with another reviewer that this felt more like a children's tale. Its the language used. Personal Legand used over and over sounds cheesy and like a concept over simplified. I also found the introduction of a love interest a bit tired. Over all it's a pleasant enough fairy tale to fall alseep to. Especially with Jeremy Irons narrating.

About the author

One of the most influential writers of our time, Paulo Coelho is the author of thirty international bestsellers, including The Alchemist, Warrior of the Light, Brida, Veronika Decides to Die, and Eleven Minutes. He is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters and a United Nations Messenger of Peace. Paulo is the recipient of 115 international prizes and awards, among them, the Chevalier de l'Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur (Legion of Honor). Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1947, he soon discovered his vocation for writing. He worked as a director, theater actor, songwriter, and journalist. In 1986, a special meeting led him to make the pilgrimage to Saint James Compostela (in Spain). The Road to Santiago was not only a common pilgrimage but a turning point in his existence. A year later, he wrote The Pilgrimage, an autobiographical novel that is considered the beginning of his literary career. He lives in Geneva, Switzerland.

Jeremy Irons, winner of both an Oscar® and a Tony® has starred in such films as Dead Ringers, Reversal of Fortune, The French Lieutenant's Woman, and was the voice of Scar in The Lion King.