The definitive biography of Paulo Coelho, one of the world's most popular and widely read authors -- and the story of how THE ALCHEMIST came to be. Fernando Morais, the preeminent biographer in Brazil and a groundbreaking journalist, centers his investigative verve on one of Brazil's most influential and successful kinsman -- Paulo Coelho, the beloved author and phenomenon who has sold more than 100 million books worldwide and whose work has been translated more than any other contemporary writer. Tracing Coelho's roots in Brazil to his time as a musician and pop lyricist to his wild days of rock and roll to the publication of the megabestseller The Alchemist and beyond, this biography tells the real tale of one of the most widely read and adored authors of our time.

Paulo Coelho: A Warrior's Liff is the first-ever biography of the man whose books have sold an astounding 100 million copies worldwide, making him one of the bestselling authors of all time.

Paulo Coelho's life begins with a complicated birth in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August 1947. He was known as the "boy who was born dead" and who ultimately survived against all odds. Before he became internationally known as a worldwide bestselling author, Paulo lived many different lives.Now, for the first time, discover the life story of one of the most widely read and adored authors of our time.

CHAPTER 1 Paulo today: Budapest-Prague- Hamburg-Cairo

CHAPTER 2 Childhood

CHAPTER 3 Schooldays

CHAPTER 4 First play, first love

CHAPTER 5 First encounter with Dr Benjamim

CHAPTER 6 Batatinha's debut

CHAPTER 7 Ballad of the Clinic Gaol

CHAPTER 8 Shock treatment

CHAPTER 9 The great escape

CHAPTER 10 Vera

CHAPTER 11 The marijuana years

CHAPTER 12 Discovering America

CHAPTER 13 Gisa

CHAPTER 14 The Devil and Paulo

CHAPTER 15 Paulo and Raul

CHAPTER 16 A devil of a different sort

CHAPTER 17 Paulo renounces the Devil

CHAPTER 18 Cissa

CHAPTER 19 London

CHAPTER 20 Christina

CHAPTER 21 First meeting with Jean

CHAPTER 22 Paulo and Christina-publishers

CHAPTER 23 The roadto Santiago

CHAPTER 24 The Alchemist

CHAPTER 25 The critics' response

CHAPTER 26 Success abroad

CHAPTER 27 World fame

CHAPTER 28 Becoming an 'immortal'

CHAPTER 29 The Zahir

CHAPTER 30 One hundred million copies sold

Facts about Paulo Coelho

Acknowledgements