The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

 Detailed summary

The Alchemist a fascinating novel by Paulo Coelho, first published in 1988. It is a mystical fiction story of a shepherd named Santiago. He takes his herd of sheep across boundaries and explores new places. He sometimes sits along and wonder about his sheep and their behavior towards him, it was not difficult to understand that the sheep depended on him, they would wake up when he woke up, follow him everywhere. Sometimes, it made Santiago think about what kind of life these sheep led.

Santiago was a son of a priest, his father expected him to become a priest as well but, Santiago wasn’t convinced by this logic, he wanted to be a free bird, to travel the world and visit new places. The only profession which seemed legit to fulfill his dream was that of a shepherd, and so Santiago decided to be a shepherd.

Everything was going well for a year and so, until Santiago had this weird dream. He dreamt of a small boy playing with his sheep and later the boy took him to the pyramids of Egypt, where a treasure was hidden. Santiago struggled to interpret this dream so, he decided to visit an old lady in Tarifa, she was able to interpret dreams. After narrating the entire dream to the old lady, she asked Santiago to swear that he would give her 1/10^th of his treasure. At first Santiago found it funny and swore, but the lady told him to visit the pyramids of Egypt and there he would find that treasure.

Later that day Santiago sat peacefully on a bench near a plaza, reading his new book. Suddenly out of nowhere, an old man appeared next to him, he was trying to make small talk with Santiago. He called himself the king of Salem. Somehow, he convinced Santiago to realize his destiny, and that his destiny lied in searching the treasure. The old man’s speech was so convincing that Santiago was actually thinking of going to the pyramids of Egypt looking for the hidden treasure. But, everything in life has a price and if he wanted to know how to find the treasure, he will have to give 1/10^th of his flock to the old man.

The very next day Santiago sold all his sheep to of his friend in the town, and took 1/10^th of the flock to the old man, where he received directions from the old man. He asked Santiago to look for good omen, and that the omens will lead him in his journey further. That afternoon he boarded his ship to Africa.

The day he reached Africa, a young fellow fooled Santiago and robbed him. He was left without any money. He had no choice but to work at a crystal shop until he had enough money to move further to Egypt. For almost a month Santiago worked for the crystal merchant, he also came up with various ideas to increase the sale and those worked. He saved enough money to go further to Egypt.

Santiago started his journey toward Egypt with a caravan, amongst them was a wannabe alchemist, searching his master. Days passed and the routine continued, to travel during the day time and rest during the night. Until, one day the caravan reached a small village Al-Fayoum amid the dessert. Where he met Fatima, incredible young girl, Santiago had fallen for her the minute he saw her. The caravan was struck in this dessert because a battle was going on in the nearby dessert. That evening as Santiago was thinking about Fatima and his love for her, he saw something cynical in the sky, hawks were flying in such a way as if trying to warn about the army troop heading towards the village. He then warns the head of the village about the attack and these villagers prepared to defend themselves. This surprising vision of Santiago, gets him an invitation form the alchemist. He asks Santiago to accompany him on a trip through dessert to Egypt.

This trip teaches Santiago lot of meaningful lessons, the alchemist imparts his philosophy about the Soul of the World to him. Together these two overcome every challenge the dessert throws at them. One fine day, these two are caught by the tribesman, to free themselves the alchemist tells the men that Santiago is a strong alchemist an that he can turn into wind just in three days. This fact fascinated the tribesmen and they decide to give them three days to demonstrate this power. Santiago was in utter confusion, but on the third day he recalled all his learnings about the soul of the world and communicated with the wind, sun and earth to create a huge sandstorm, Santiago disappeared in that mist. All the tribesmen look this scene in awe. And finally, believed in what the alchemist said. They freed both of them.

The trip ends when Santiago reached the foot of the pyramids and starts digging there, but to his surprise there was nothing found, he sat in disappointment when a group of men pass by and ask him what he was up to. One of the men makes fun of Santiago saying that he had a similar dream that, there was treasure buried under an abandoned church somewhere in Spain. Santiago remembered the church and found the treasure there. He later will visit Al-Fayoum to marry Fatima.

This book teaches us to be brave enough to realize our own destiny to follow our dreams and fulfill our wishes, because it takes a lot of heart to follow our dreams.