The Alchemist
by Paulo Coelho
Open Library readers: 3.80 / 5 from 471 ratings. Separate from ratings here.Catalogue checked 2026-10-02.
The Alchemist details the journey of a young Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago. Santiago, believing a recurring dream to be prophetic, decides to travel to the pyramids of Egypt to find treasure. On the way, he encounters love, danger, opportunity and disaster. One of the significant characters that he meets is an old king named Melchizedek who tells him that "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." This is the core philosophy and motif of the book.
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About The Alchemist
A few practical answers before choosing a copy.
Bibliographic source: Open Library- Who wrote The Alchemist?
The Alchemist is by Paulo Coelho. The catalogue records its first publication in 1988. A later edition may have a different publication date on its copyright page.
- How long is The Alchemist?
The catalogue records 197 pages for a representative edition. Pagination varies with the publisher, format, type size and translation, so check the edition you intend to read.
