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How Fate Saved The Alchemist

Season 5 Episode 520
Aired on 09/07/2014 | CC tv-pg
To date, renowned author Paulo Coelho has written 31 books and sold more than 150 million copies worldwide. His second book, The Alchemist, has sold 65 million alone.

However, when The Alchemist was first published in 1988, it was deemed a flop and dropped by the publisher. Although it could have ended his writing career, Paulo persevered and convinced a second publisher to take on the book. Find out why he says the universe conspired to save The Alchemist.

More from this episode

From Paulo Coelho
Paulo reflects on 25 years of The Alchemist

Read an excerpt from his latest novel, Adultery