The Alchemist

The Alchemist
© 1988, 1993, 1994, 1998 Paulo Coelho
Harper Collins Publishers; San Francisco, California
ISBN-10: 0062502182; ISBN-13: 978-0062502186

A True-to-life Parable for Adults


“To Realize One’s Destiny is a Person’s Only Obligation.”

Santiago, a young shepherd boy, not content with the pastures of his home country, drives his sheep from one meadow to another in search of adventure. During his travels, the boy meets a gypsy who tells him of a far off treasure located at the Pyramids in Egypt; a treasure which is destined to be his. Realizing that he must give up his flock to find his treasure, Santiago reluctantly does so.

One day he meets the mysterious king, Melchizedek of Salem, who incites his curiosity and sets the boy off on a quest for answers. “Follow your dream,” says the old King; “listen to your heart.” On his journey, Santiago meets a crystal merchant, an Englishman and an alchemist, who each teach him something profound. Along the way he also meets the Love of his Life, who encourages him to look for his dream and then return to her.

Eventually, through a series of failed beginnings, false starts and dead ends, he finally makes his way out of the Maze of Life to find the Path that will lead to his Personal Legend or Life Purpose. Over the treacherous, barren desert, where men – and women – have been known to parish of great thirst and predation, he struggles on in search of the Pyramids, his Treasure and the Ultimate Truth.

Soon, he meets the Alchemist, who teaches him about nature, Love and miracles and helps him to understand the true meaning of life. The Alchemist tells him, “Everything that happens once, can happen again. But everything that happens twice, will surely happen a third time,” and “No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn’t know it.” …. “Be aware of the place where you are brought to tears...that is where your treasure is.”

The Alchemist helps him to see that we are all not only one with God, but that we are God and are capable of far more than we can ever imagine. On the journey, the boy meets someone he never expected to meet: himself.

At last, Santiago learns that home, most assuredly is where the heart is.