by Paulo Coelho · 1988
A young Andalusian shepherd named Santiago sets out from Spain for the Egyptian pyramids after a recurring dream convinces him a treasure awaits him there. Along the way he meets a king, a crystal merchant, an Englishman studying alchemy, and finally an alchemist himself, each of whom teaches him something about listening to his heart and pursuing what Coelho calls his "Personal Legend." Written as a modern fable, the novel follows Santiago's journey through the Tangier marketplace and across the Sahara as he learns to read omens and trust the world's hidden unity. It became one of the best-selling novels in history and established Coelho as an international literary figure.