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  • The Alchemist

  • A Fable About Following Your Dream
  • Written by: Paulo Coelho
  • Narrated by: Jeremy Irons
  • Length: 4 hrs
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (3,257 ratings)

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The Alchemist cover art

The Alchemist

Written by: Paulo Coelho
Narrated by: Jeremy Irons
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Publisher's Summary

Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its simplicity and wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an Alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a meditation on the treasures found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is art eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.
©1988 Paulo Coelho (P)2005 HarperCollins Publishers

What the critics say

"The story has the comic charm, dramatic tension and psychological intensity of a fairy tale, but it's full of specific wisdom as well, about becoming self-empowered, overcoming depression, and believing in dreams." (Publishers Weekly)

"It is short, but certainly packs a wallop. What makes the story even better is Jeremy Irons's unforgettable narration.... Irons's voice is crystal clear, and every word is given its own starring role in the text. He creates wondrous characters, male and female, that stay with us." (AudioFile)

Editorial Review

The Alchemist tells the story of Santiago, a young shepherd who quests through the desert to find a treasure. He runs into many obstacles during his journey, but what if the treasure was inside him all along? Santiago learns important life lessons through his hurdles, and inspires listeners to follow their dreams and change their lives forever.

The Alchemist takes place in an indistinct period of the past, but clearly in a pre-modern era. The main plot is set in the Spanish pastures, the Spanish city of Tarifa, the city of Tangier in North Africa, and the Sahara Desert. The Alchemist has been translated into 67 languages and has won the Guinness World Record for the most translated book by a living author. Paulo Coelho has written over 25 titles in all and is one of the best-selling writers in the world. Besides The Alchemist, his other best sellers include Eleven Minutes and The Pilgrimage, which are also available for download on Audible.

Jeremy Irons narrates The Alchemist in a captivating, silky voice, with a flawless pacing that brings unexpected dimensions to Santiago’s journey. The award-winning film, television, and stage actor has narrated many other world-renowned audiobooks, such as Lolita and Brideshead Revisited.

The Alchemist was not an instantaneous international success, selling just 900 copies at first. Yet now with more than 85 million copies sold worldwide, it is one of the best-selling titles in history. The literature classic has won several international awards, including the 2004 Nielsen Gold Book Award for outstanding sales in the UK, and Germany’s 2002 Corine International Award for best fiction.

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What listeners say about The Alchemist

Average Customer Ratings
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Enjoyable book

It was an easy listen while I commuted to and from work. The author kept my attention through out the audio book I found my mindnthinking how this relates to my life. Well worth the listen!

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9 people found this helpful

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Fantastic

It's a Great story. Full of wisdom and inspiration. Very nicely narrated. I highly recommend it.

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7 people found this helpful

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Great for self reflection in the audio version

I have enjoyed this story for 2 decades and have found the audiobook to be a refreshing re-telling of the story I'm so familiar with.
Jeremy Irons is a perfect narrator.
With the audiobook, I can stop and bookmark and reflect upon my own journey through life.
A very nice take on a yearly reading ritual for myself.

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6 people found this helpful

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unreal

Unreal, great reading, great book! I have listened to it over and over again...A great way to reset and refocus when things need to slow down and be simplified!

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5 people found this helpful

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Source of Wisdom

This books has so much wisdom to learn from. Everyone who is in their mid-life still trying to chase or pursue their personal legends should read this book. This book is like a beacon of light that will serve as your guide.

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2 people found this helpful

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hitting replay again! best for driving!

Loved it almost meditative! need to listen quite a few times to cement some ideas!

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2 people found this helpful

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The best novel ever written about adventure.

The best novel ever written about adventure and life.
great performance and voice 👍👌👏.
must read book for everyone

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Great book/Even better narrator

An amazing book to read but Jeremy Irons elevates this to an even higher level. I think I would listen to him describe paint drying. 10/10 would recommend for anyone.

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Insight read

Loved it Jeremy Irons did an amazing job! Wonderful story with the message we all need to learn .

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Cute

Were it not for the preformence I dont think id have enjoyed this book. Im glad its only 4 hours. I didnt love the book but i enjoyed it, thought it was cute.

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