A beautiful novel written by Paulo Coelho.

The Alchemist is a novel by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho which was first published in 1988.

The Alchemist follows the journey of an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago. Believing a recurring dream to be prophetic, he decides to travel to a Romani fortune-teller in a nearby town to discover its meaning. The woman interprets the dream as a prophecy telling the boy that there is a treasure in the pyramids in Egypt.

Early into his journey, he meets an old king, whose name was Melchizedek or the king of Salem, who tells him to sell his sheep to travel to Egypt and introduces the idea of a Personal Legend. Your Personal Legend "is what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is." He adds that "when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." This is the core theme of the book.

The Pyramids of Giza
Along the way, the boy meets an Englishman who has come in search of an Alchemist and continues his travels with him. They travel through the Sahara desert and during his journey, Santiago meets and falls in love with a beautiful Arabian woman named Fatima, who resides with her clan near an oasis. He asks Fatima to marry him, but she says she will only marry him after he completes his journey and finds his treasures. He is perplexed by this, but later learns that true love will not stop nor plead to sacrifice one's Personal Legend, and if it does, it is not true love.

The boy then encounters a wise alchemist who also teaches him about Personal Legends. He says that people want to find only the treasure of their Personal Legends but not the Personal Legend itself. The boy feels unsure about himself as he listens to the alchemist's teachings.

The alchemist states, "Those who don't understand their Personal Legends will fail to comprehend their teachings". It is also stated that treasure is more worthy than gold. The main theme recurs all through the novel, "When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream."

It's a wonderful book which inspires you to follow your dreams despite the obstacles that lay ahead. Every one has a different Destiny and all that one needs is to realise that and work hard to fulfill that dream. It may be tough but remember you are no else. You have done it earlier and you can do it now...

A must Read for all those who are seeking themselves. A must Read also for them who have found themselves. Suitable for all ages.

A BOOK WORTH READING AND REREADING.....

ENJOY.....