Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1947, Paulo Coelho is considered one of the world’s bestselling and most influential writers. His work includes The Pilgrimage, The Alchemist, Warrior of the Light, Maktub, The Valkyries, and The Supreme Gift, among many other titles, and has made him a publishing phenomenon, with more than 320 million copies sold.
Coelho has received major international honours, including the prestigious title of Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur from the French government and the Gold Medal of Galicia. He has been a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters since 2002 and a United Nations Messenger of Peace since 2007.