"Luister na jou hart. Dit weet alles ..."
Santiago, 'n jong skaapwagter, verlaat sy tuisdorp om te reis en meer oor die wêreld uit te vind. Hy ontmoet 'n ou Sigeunervrou, 'n man wat homself 'n koning noem, en 'n alchemis. Hulle almal lei hom in die rigting van 'n verborge skat. Langs die pad kry Santiago met allerhande gevare te doen en beleef merkwaardige avonture. Maar hy moet leer om die omens te lees en te verstaan voordat hy sy roeping kan volbring.
Die Alchemis is 'n verbysterend eenvoudige verhaal vol wyshede en is 'n ewigdurende getuigskrif van die waarde daarvan om na ons harte te luister, die tekens op ons lewenspad te lees en om ons drome na te streef. "Ek probeer om direk te wees sonder om vlak te wees," sê Paulo Coelho oor sy werk.
Die boek vertel die verhaal van Santiago, 'n jong skaapwagter, wat sy tuisdorp verlaat om te gaan reis en meer oor die wêreld te leer. Langs die pad ontmoet hy 'n Sigeuner, 'n man wat homself 'n koning noem en 'n alchemis. Hulle almal lei Santiago na 'n verborge skat. Hy kry te doen met allerlei gevare en beleef ongelooflike avonture, maar hy moet die omens leer interpreteer en verstaan as hy sy roeping wil volbring.
Die roman word as 'n meesterwerk in die moderne letterkunde beskou en uiteenlopende persoonlikhede, van Madonna tot Bill Clinton, is groot aanhangers van die werk. Die boek is ook gereeld op die lyste van topverkopers, plaaslik en internasionaal. Die akteur Laurence Fishburne gaan 'n filmweergawe van The Alchemist, waarvan produksie na verwagting in 2006 sal begin, skryf en regisseer. Hy sal ook 'n rol in die film vertolk.
Die boek is reeds in 52 tale vertaal en by die Frankfortse Boekejaarmark in Oktober 2003 het Coelho 'n wêreldrekord opgestel deur die meeste vertalings van een werk in een sessie te onderteken.
Die Alchemis is by Bennie Naudé vertaal.
"Listen to your heart. It knows everything."
A shepherd boy named Santiago ventures from his home village to travel and learn more about the world. He meets a gypsy, a man who calls himself a king, and an alchemist. All of them point Santiago in the direction of hidden treasure. Along the way he encounters dangers and experiences remarkable adventures, but it is the omens that he must learn to read and understand if he is to meet his destiny.
Die Alchemis is a story dazzling in its simplicity and wisdom and is an eternal testament to the value of listening to our hearts, reading the omens on our journey through life and following our dreams. 'I try to be direct without being shallow,' says Paulo Coelho. The story concerns a shepherd boy named Santiago who ventures from his home village to travel and learn more about the world. Along the way, he meets a gypsy; a man who calls himself a king; and an alchemist. All of them point Santiago in the direction of hidden treasure. He encounters dangers and experiences remarkable adventures, but it is the omens that he must learn to interpret and understand if he is to meet his destiny.
The novel has become a modern classic and counts among its followers, personalities as diverse as Madonna and Bill Clinton. The book features consistently on local and international bestseller lists. Furthermore, actor Laurence Fishburne will write, direct and star in the film version of The Alchemist that is expected to go into production in 2006.
The book has already been translated into 52 languages - and at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October 2003, Coelho set a world record by signing the most translated versions of a book in one sitting.
Die Alchemis was translated from The Alchemist by Bennie Naudé.