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  • The Alchemist

  • A Fable About Following Your Dream
  • By: Paulo Coelho
  • Narrated by: Jeremy Irons
  • Length: 4 hrs
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (4,166 ratings)

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The Alchemist cover art

The Alchemist

By: Paulo Coelho
Narrated by: Jeremy Irons
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Editorial reviews

With a chorus of followers worldwide singing its praises, The Alchemist delivers soul-stirring wisdom to motivate anyone whose dreams are seemingly out of reach.

Described as an inspiring fable, The Alchemist is a metaphorical tale of author Paulo Coelho’s journey of self-discovery through following his heart. The enchanting audiobook follows Santiago, a humble young shepherd who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a mysterious buried treasure. The fictional story of a shepherd boy's bold journey into the unknown to find a fortune reveals itself as a reflection of the riches found within each of us.

Narrated by esteemed actor Jeremy Irons, every spoken word in this audiobook is unforgettable and ropes you along the journey. Clear, commanding and distinct, Irons’s gifted voice has lent itself broadly from Scar in Disney’s The Lion King (1994) movie to the English-language audio guide for Westminster Abbey in London.

Whilst the tale may be fiction, the lessons are real and readily applicable. The Alchemist is compass-like, offering guidance on finding your direction and purpose in life. As Santiago’s quest reveals, obstacles and fear are overcome when you acknowledge what your heart tells you and allow yourself to be drawn towards what you truly love. Download The Alchemist and prepare to become invested in the transformative power of your dreams.

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

Critic Reviews

"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)

What listeners say about The Alchemist

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  • Overall
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Well written

This book is a great piece of work and should be read by anyone who seeks treasure and meaning in life...

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Amazing!

What an amazing book! Loved every minute! Full of inspiration, romance and general awesomeness ☺️. A must read!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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An engaging and adventurous spiritual book.

I easily found time to listen to this book in one day. I tried stopping at one point but wanted to find out what was going to happen next and soon continued listening. I loved the narration, and thought the book was well thought through.

My only complaint is that the book is too short and finished kind of abruptly.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Speaks to your heart

I had no expectations about this book going into it, looked at it on the shelf in several bookstores and simply purchased it to use up excess credits.... omen?? 🤔

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    5 out of 5 stars
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I think I will be Re-listening to this once month.

L O V E D IT! i had always heard about this book but never got around to it. Kicking myself I didn't buy it earlier.

Really good life lessons! Also reinforcing/reminding of what I already know but glad I finally read/listened to it.

Do yourself a favour!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Learn to listen to your heart

Excellent book, well narrated. Explains why it is so important to follow your heart, wrapped around an entertaining fictitious adventure story.

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A must read!

What a lovely uplifting and inspiring book, so many messages for us in this book, easy to listen too and read.
This book should be compulsory reading in schools.

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Heart-warming and inspirational

Couldn't stop listening. It's so heart warming and inspiring. Who knows how many people have been inspired to follow their own personal legend.

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Great read

loved it even though third time. love Jeremy Irons doing the audio. Would like more of his.

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Simply beautiful

Jeremy's voice is just incredibly perfect, and this was a gorgeous story about personal dreeams

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