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 world wide 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