Article taken from Publisher’s Weekly
Paulo Coelho’s new book, Maktub, will be published in a new global English-language edition in March 2024. The book, originally published in 1994 and subsequently translated into 20 languages (but not English), is a collection of columns that Paulo Coelho published during a year at the newspaper Folha de São Paulo.
The word Matktub means “it is written,” and the book offers a series of stories and parables inspired by sources and folklore from several places that pick up on different cultures’ wisdom and “invites readers on a journey of faith, self-reflection, and transformation,” according to HarperCollins.
The book is “not a book of advice—but an exchange of experiences,” said Coelho. He added that each story offers an illuminated path to see life and the lives of our fellow people around the world in new ways, allowing us to tap into universal truths about our collective and individual humanity. “A man who seeks only the light, while shirking his responsibilities, will never find illumination. And one who keeps his eyes fixed upon the sun… ends up blind,” Coelho said.
Judith Curr, president and publisher of HarperOne, explained that the book will first be published in the U.S. and Canada on March 5, with the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand publications to follow. “This collection of timeless stories of reflection and rediscovery will engage seekers of all ages and resonate deeply with Paulo Coelho’s millions of followers.”
Coelho is the author of 30 books which have been published in more than 170 countries; he has sold more than 22 million copies across formats in the U.S. alone. Coelho’s fan base numbers some 17.6 million followers across social media and millions of readers around the world.
Thorsons publishing director, Lydia Good, said: “We’re so lucky to have Paulo’s wonderful portfolio on the Thorson’s list, and are delighted to have the opportunity to publish this new translation for his millions of dedicated readers. There’s real excitement around the world for the English edition of Maktub, and we’re honored to be a part of it.”
About the book
An essential companion to the inspirational classic The Alchemist, filled with timeless stories of reflection and rediscovery.
From one of the greatest writers of our age comes a collection of stories and parables unlocking the mysteries of the human condition. Gathered from Paulo Coelho’s daily column of the same name, Maktub, meaning “it is written,” invites seekers on a journey of faith, self-reflection, and transformation. As Paulo Coelho explains, ‘Maktub is not a book of advice—but an exchange of experiences.’
Each story offers an illuminated path to see life and the lives of our fellow people around the world in new ways, allowing us to tap into universal truths about our collective and individual humanity. As Coelho writes, ‘a man who seeks only the light, while shirking his responsibilities, will never find illumination. And one who keep his eyes fixed upon the sun . . . ends up blind.’ In these wise tales akin to Zen koans and other mysteries of the universe, there are talking snakes, old women climbing mountains, disciples querying their masters, Buddha in dialogue, mysterious hermits, and many saints.
Following the path of his previous internationally bestselling works, this thoughtful collection of short, inspirational pieces, introduced in a foreword by the author and illustrated with black-and-white line art throughout, will engage seekers of all ages and backgrounds.
Book Details:
Published: March 2024
ISBN: 9780008681036
Publisher: Thorsons
About the Author
Paulo Coelho is the author of The Alchemist, he was born in 1947 in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Being the author of 30 books that have sold over 320 million copies in 170 countries, he has become one of the most widely read authors in the world today. Paulo Coelho is the recipient of over 115 awards and honours, including the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the Grinzane Cavour Book Award and the Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur, to name a few
