Synopses & Reviews
How do we find the courage to always be true to ourselves—even if we are unsure of whom we are?
That is the central question of international bestselling author Paulo Coelho's profound new work, The Witch of Portobello. It is the story of a mysterious woman named Athena, told by the many who knew her well—or hardly at all. Among them:
"People create a reality and then become the victims of that reality. Athena rebelled against that—and paid a high price."
Heron Ryan, journalist
"I was used and manipulated by Athena, with no consideration for my feelings. She was my teacher, charged with passing on the sacred mysteries, with awakening the unknown energy we all possess. When we venture into that unfamiliar sea, we trust blindly in those who guide us, believing that they know more than we do."
Andrea McCain, actress
"Athena's great problem was that she was a woman of the twenty-second century living in the twenty-first, and making no secret of the fact, either. Did she pay a price? She certainly did. But she would have paid a still higher price if she had repressed her natural exuberance. She would have been bitter, frustrated, always concerned about 'what other people might think,' always saying, 'I'll just sort these things out, then I'll devote myself to my dream,' always complaining 'that the conditions are never quite right.'"
Deidre O'Neill, known as Edda
Like The Alchemist, The Witch of Portobello is the kind of story that will transform the way readers think about love, passion, joy, and sacrifice.
Synopsis
New York Times Bestseller
"An incredibly beautiful read." - Seattle Post-Intelligencer
How do we find the courage to always be true to ourselves--even if we are unsure of who we are?
That is the central question of international bestselling author Paulo Coelho's profound work The Witch of Portobello. It is the story of a mysterious woman named Athena, told by the many who knew her well--or hardly at all.
The Witch of Portobello is the kind of story that will transform the way readers think about love, passion, joy, and sacrifice.
Synopsis
< p=""> How do we find the courage to always be true to ourselves& #8212; even if we are unsure of who we are? <> < p=""> That is the central question of international bestselling author Paulo Coelho's profound new novel, < i=""> The Witch of Portobello<> . It is the story of a mysterious woman named Athena, told by the many who knew her well& #8212; or hardly at all. Like < i=""> The Alchemist<> , < i=""> The Witch of Portobello<> is the kind of story that will transform the way readers think about love, passion, joy and sacrifice. <>
About the Author
The Brazilian author Paulo Coelho was born in 1947 in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Before dedicating his life completely to literature, he worked as theater director, actor, lyricist, and journalist. Coelho wrote song lyrics for many famous performers in Brazilian music, such as Elis Regina and Rita Lee, yet he is best known for his work with Raul Seixas. Together they wrote such successes as "Eu nasci há dez mil anos atrás" ("I Was Born Ten Thousand Years Ago"), "Gita," and "Al Capone."
His fascination with the spiritual quest dates back to his hippie days, when he travelled the world learning about secret societies, oriental religions, etc. In 1982, Coelho published his first book, Hell Archives, which failed to make any kind of impact. In 1985, he contributed to the Practical Manual of Vampirism, although he later tried to take it off the shelves, since he considered it "of bad quality." In 1986, Paulo Coelho did the pilgrimage to Saint James of Compostella, an experience later to be documented in his book The Pilgrimage.