Paulo Coelho
With a circulation of his books amounting to 35 million in more than 141 countries, and their translation in 55 languages, the Brazilian author Paulo Coelho is one of the most successful authors of our time. One of his most keen readers are statesmen such as William J. Clinton or Shimon Peres and artists such as Madonna. But the millions of books he sells and the fact that the best seller lists are not thinkable without his books show that his work is a “world wide editor’s phenomenon” (New York Times): Coelho in his stories about the spiritual search for the meaning of life manages to bridge any cultural or social barrier. He combines the personal with the general, the sensual with the magic and he conjures with the power of thought and action.
His speech is of plain clarity and simplicity. His stories are understood by everyone and everywhere and he reaches people of divergent origin, generation, education and nationality.
Paulo Coelho with his books searches for a wisdom which is found within the reader himself. His tales inspire and stimulate, without taking the space of the reader to search for his own inner aims and tasks. As such, he is a catalysator on the search for sense.
Paulo Coelho is a regular speaker on the world economics forum in Davos and a special consultant for Unesco for the programme “intercultural dialogue“. He stands for variety and tolerance, for civil courage and the creation of a better future. In 1996 he started the foundation “Instituto Paulo Coelho“, which is financed by his royalties and looks after suffering elderly people and children, offering food and a chance for education. In 1999 he was awarded the “Golden Medal of Galicia“, an award which so far has only been given to the king himself and the cardinal of Madrid. French President Jacques Chirac knighted him in 2000 as the knight of the honorary legion. He was honoured with many literary awards. Since 2002 he is a member of the venerable Brazilian academy for literature.