Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho (born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 24, 1947, age 64 years) was a Brazilian poet. He was born into a middle class family in an urban environment. His father is an architect Pedro, Lygia and her mother was a housewife. At seven years, Coelho put the Jesuit school of San Ignacio in Rio de Janeiro by both parents. At that time, he was not comfortable with the life of a Jesuit school that requires all students to undergo a strict worship. Although small Coelho is not too comfortable studying in a Jesuit school, but apparently at this school for the first time also writing talent began to emerge. He won a poetry competition at his school, and even his sister, Sonia, had won an essay contest to capitalize only the work of his brother who had been thrown into the trash.



Although Coelho very talented writer, it turns out her parents had never hoped that his son would become a writer. They would prefer it if his son later became an architect or a lawyer. Both parents strive to make her son was getting close to the world of writing. However it seems that Coelho was not the kind of obedient children. Prohibition of parents and her encounter with the book entitled Henry Miller Tropic of Cancer rekindle the spirit of the rebellion. His father saw this as a symptom of psychiatric disorders and eventually put her into a mental hospital. In the asylum, Coelho had to undergo electroconvulsive therapy.



Electroconvulsive therapy is a therapy with an electrifying power supply to the body of mental disorders. This therapy would be a negative impact on the human nervous tissue. This therapy was banned in Brazil after Coelho reveals this heinous practice in his novel "Veronika Decides Dead". Coelho had two times out of a mental hospital before being declared cured.


Shortly after being discharged from psychiatric hospitals, Coelho then joined a theater group and worked as a journalist. In the eyes of his parents and also the general Brazilian society at that time, the world of journalism is identical as an immoral world. Fearing her son would get a bad influence, parents Coelho broke his promise not to put his son to a mental hospital again. And Coelho was a patient of a mental hospital for the third time. After discharge from the hospital, Coelho became increasingly familiar with the surroundings and absorbed in his own world. In desperation, her parents called a doctor to check on her son.


This doctor stated Coelho is not really crazy and should not be put in a mental hospital.
Once "cured" of mental disorders, Coelho returned to continue his studies in law school, and it seems he will follow his parents' plan. However, not long after Coelho even drop out and went back to the theater. It was about the sixties, the hippie movement was sweeping across the world, including in Brazil. The movement is still spreading, even though at that time dominated by Brazil's repressive military regime. Coelho is one of Brazil's young people who are interested in the famous hippie movement with the slogan "Make love, not war" (Make love, not war). Coelho seems to really live hippienya total, and undergo some of the hippie lifestyle, such as: lengthen your hair, does not carry identity cards when traveling, and using illegal drugs. At that point, Coelho has also collaborated with Brazilian musician Raul Seixas, and managed to create songs are popular hits in Brazil. In 1973, Coelho and Seixas set up an alternative group that aims to challenge capitalism. They make a series of comic books Kring-ha in protest over freedom terbelenggunya Brazilian citizens. Dictatorial regimes in power at that time saw this action as an act of treason, and Seixas and Coelho throw into prison. Though finally free, Coelho has experienced a variety of torture during languishing in prison.


Torture in prison was very deep impression in Coelho. At the age of 26 years, Coelho stop all activities "subversive" and decides to live a more "normal". He worked at PolyGram, a record company, and meet women who later became his wife there. In 1977, Coelho and his wife moved to London. After a long dormant desire to write Coelho rise again. He then bought a typewriter and tried to write again. His attempt was less successful. A year later, Coelho returned to Brazil and worked as an executive at CBS, a leading record company in Brazil. This work is only practiced for three months because he resigned after the divorce with his wife.
In 1979, Coelho met with Christina Oiticica, old friend. Soon, they finally decided to get married. This time including eternal marriage because they are both still together to this day. After an adverse event in his past, as if reluctant Coelho fulfill his dream to become a writer. His wife is the one who always reminds Coelho about his dream to become a writer. Tirelessly, he continued to urge Coelho to want to write anymore. Finally, after a long inner struggle, Coelho wrote his first book entitled Arquivos do Inferno (Hell Archives) in 1982 and continued with the book do Vampirismo Prático O Manual (Practical Manual of vampirism).


On July 25, 2002, Coelho was accepted as a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters 21 (ABL). This event is an important moment for the Paulo Coelho, because so far, despite his widely read, many critics have criticized the work of Coelho as a popular novel that lacks literary content. Coelho acceptance as a member of the ABL would strengthen the position of Coelho as a writer. Although much criticized, the works of Paulo Coelho in fact has inspired many nations in the world.


He also financed the Paulo Coelho Institute, an institution that helps children who are not so lucky from royalties on his writings.


Collection of writings


Coelho wrote his first book entitled Arquivos do Inferno (Hell Archives) in 1982 and continued with the book do Vampirismo Prático O Manual (Practical Manual of vampirism). Both of these books fail in the market and get the harsh criticism from critics because of poor quality. In 1987, Paulo Coelho completed the novel O Diario De Um Magi (Diary of A Magi), which in the English version was published with the title The Pilgrimage (Pilgrimage). This book is a diary, Paulo Coelho during their spiritual pilgrimage from the city of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to the city of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Unlike the two previous books, this book is quite successful in the market.


Coelho's novel The next O Alquimista (The Alchemist) published in 1988. This novel is an initial milestone that will put the name Coelho in the ranks of world-class novelist. This novel, in contrast to earlier works of Coelho, is a novel that is rich in symbolic languages ​​of metaphor. This novel is the result of contemplation Coelho after struggling for eleven years with the science of alchemy. Novel The Alchemist a lot of influences from the novel Tale of Two Dreamers works of Jorge Luis Borges, a famous Brazilian writer. Although initially selling novel was not very good and had stopped its circulation by publishing in Brazil, but Coelho did not give up and struggling to find a publisher willing to publish another novel. Coelho figure who never gave up the pursuit of this dream as if it is a representation of the character of the shepherd boy Santiago in Her novel The Alchemist is willing to wade through in order to realize his dream of a vicious desert. This effort to fruition because of Harper Collins, an international publishing company, agreed to publish his book. The result, sales of the novel The Alchemist is fantastic and unexpected. Novel The Alchemist to date have been translated into 56 languages ​​and sold over 11 million copies. This novel was put Coelho as one of the greatest Brazilian poet.


After the success of the novel The Alchemist Coelho does not mean complacency. Coelho is a prolific writer who almost every year always out the latest work-whether it be the original novel, novel adaptations, a collection of short stories, as well as a collection of articles. Coelho's works are: Brida (1990); O Dom Supremo (The Gift) (1991); As Valkírias (The Valkyries) (1992); Maktub and Na margem do rio Piedra eu e chorei sentei (In The River Piedra I Sit and Cry) (1994); O Monte Cinco (Fifth Mountain) (1996); Letras do amor de um prophet (Love Letters from a Prophet) and the Manual do Guerreiro da luz (The Manual of the Warrior of Light) (1997) ; Veronika Decide morrer (Veronika Decides Dead) and palavras essenciais (Essential Words) (1998), O Demônio ea srta Prym (The Devil and Miss Prym) (2000); Histórias the pais, FILHOS e netos (Fathers, Sons and Grandsons) ( 2001); Onze Minutos (Eleven Minutes) (2003); O Genio e as Rosas (The Genie and the Roses) and E no sétimo him (And on the Seventh Day) (2004), O Zahir (Zahir) and Caminhos Recolhidos ( Revived Paths) (2005); Ser um rio que como flui (Like The Flowing River) and A Bruxa de Portobello (The Witch of Portobello) (2006); Vida: Citações selecionadas (Life: Selected Quotations) (2007); O Vencedor SO está (The Winner Stands Alone), O Mago The Wizard (Biography of Fernando Morais works) (2008). Overall, the work of Coelho has sold 100 million copies and translated into 67 languages ​​and spread to about 150 countries around the world.


Appreciation

Distinction of Honour from the City of Odense (Hans Christian Andersen Award), Denmark, 2007
Las Pergolas Prize 2006 from the Association of Mexican Booksellers (Almac), Mexico, 2006
I Premio Álava en el Corazón, Spain, 2006
Cruz do Mérito do Empreendedor Juscelino Kubitschek, Brazil, 2006
Wilbur Award, Presented by the Religion Communicators Council, the United States, 2006
Kiklop Literary Award for The Zahir in the category Hit of the Year, Croatia, 2006
DirectGroup International Author Award, Germany, 2005
Goldene Feder Award, Germany, 2005
The Budapest Prize, Hungary, 2005
Order of Honour of Ukraine, Ukraine, 2004
Order of St. Sophia to contribute to the rise of science and culture, Ukraine, 2004
Nielsen Gold Book Award for The Alchemist England, 2004
Ex Libris Award for Eleven Minutes, Serbia, 2004
Golden Bestseller Priz of "Večernje Novosti", Serbia 2004
Best Fiction Corine International Award 2002 for The Alchemist, Germany, 2002
Club of Budapest Planetary Arts Award 2002, Germany 2002
Bambi 2001 Award, Germany, 2001
XXIII Premio Internazionale Fregene, Italy, 2001
Crystal Mirror Award, Poland, 2000
Chevalier de l'ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur, France, 1999
Crystal Award from the World Economic Forum, 1999
Golden Medal of Galicia, Spain, 1999
International IMPAC Literary Award finalist, Ireland, 1997 and 2000)
Comendador de Ordem do Rio Branco, Brazil, 1998
Golden Book Yugoslavia, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2004)
Super Grinzane Cavour Book Award Italy, 1996
Flaiano International Award, Italy, 1996
Knight of Arts and Letters (France 1996)
Grand Prix Litteraire Elle (France 1995)