Then it's back to Brazil for two more months, followed by the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Yugoslavia, Finland and Iceland.Coelho's international success began in 1993, when The Alchemist was translated into English. After a month watching the World Cup in Rio ("like a fan"), he resumes his tour. Australia, New Zealand and Japan again, then Korea, Israel, Turkey and Greece. We seem to have a cultural blind spot for Coelho's popular mysticism, tending to lump him in with the New Age "cult" market.
The French, who adore him, recently awarded him the Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres - their most prestigious literary gong.Yet the British press has paid scant attention to his books, despite very respectable UK sales of around 200,000. Along the way he has collected literary awards like some people collect parking tickets. His five books have sold a total of 15 million copies, been translated into 36 languages, and published in 74 countries. Even so, I can't help feeling a little defensive.During the last decade, you see, Paulo Coelho (pronounced Kwayl-yo) has become one of the world's best-selling authors, and one of the few to deserve the widely flaunted tag, "publishing phenomenon".
Striding towards this small, compact man with silvery hair and goatee beard, I find myself looking for the flash of white starch on his collar, and realise he reminds me of a priest. At close quarters though, the eye is drawn instead to the luxurious cashmere of his blazer, and that slim but substantial gold watch."Please, please ..." he says, ushering me to his table He thanks the waitress for serving tea, simply and politely. Clearly, Paulo Coelho is a very nice man, every bit as relaxed and charming as you might expect a Brazilian millionaire to be. Second, his smile is so warm and welcoming that I almost turn and look over my shoulder. Alix Sharkey goes on a PersonalQuest to meet the Brazilian literary wizardWhen I eventually spot him standing on the other side of the restaurant, I wonder why it took me so long First, he is dressed entirely in black. Dirck van Baburen is a lesser artist, but his Prometheus Chained and The Mocking of Christ have considerable merits.
