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How do we find the courage to always be true to ourselves—even if we are unsure of who we are?
That is the central question of international bestselling author Paulo Coelho's profound new work, The Witch of Portobello. It is the story of a mysterious woman named Athena, told by the many who knew her well—or hardly at all. Like The Alchemist, The Witch of Portobello is the kind of story that will transform the way readers think about love, passion, joy, and sacrifice.
As a youth, Coelho was expected to follow in the footsteps of his father, a professional engineer. When he rebelled, expressing his intentions to become a writer, his parents had him committed to a psychiatric hospital where he was subjected to electro-shock therapy. He left home to join the 1970s countercultural revolution, experimenting with drugs, dabbling in black magic, and getting involved in Brazil's bohemian art and music scene. He teamed with rock musician Raul Seixas for an extremely successful songwriting partnership that changed the face of Brazilian pop -- and put a lot of money in Coelho's pockets. He also joined an anti-capitalist organization called the Alternative Society which attracted the attention of Brazil's military dictatorship. Marked down as a subversive, he was imprisoned and tortured.
Amazingly, Coelho survived these horrific experiences. He left the hippie lifestyle behind, went to work in the record industry, and began to write, but without much success. Then, in the mid-1980s, during a trip to Europe, he met a man, an unnamed mentor he refers to only as "J," who inducted him into Regnum Agnus Mundi, a secret society that blends Catholicism with a sort of New Age mysticism. At J's urging, Coelho journeyed across el Camino de Santiago, the legendary Spanish road traversed by pilgrims since the Middle Ages. He chronicled this life-changing, 500-mile journey -- the culmination of decades of soul-searching -- in The Pilgrimage, published in 1987.
The following year, Coelho wrote The Alchemist, the inspirational fable for which he is best known. The first edition sold so poorly the publisher decided not to reprint it. Undaunted, Coelho moved to a larger publishing house that seemed more interested in his work. When his third novel (1990's Brida) proved successful, the resulting media buzz carried The Alchemist all the way to the top of the charts. Released in the U.S. by HarperCollins in 1993, The Alchemist became a word-of-mouth sensation, turning Coelho into a cult hero.
Since then, he has gone on to create his own distinct literary brand -- an amalgam of allegory and self-help filled with spiritual themes and symbols. In his novels, memoirs, and aphoristic nonfiction, he returns time and again to the concepts of quest and transformation and has often said that writing has helped connect him to his soul. While his books have not always been reviewed favorably and have often become the subject of strong cultural and philosophical debate, there is no doubt that this self-described "pilgrim writer" has struck a chord in readers everywhere. In the 2009 edition of the Guiness Book of World Records, Coelho was named the most translated living author -- with William Shakespeare the most translated of all time!
Before become a bestselling novelist, Coelho was a writer of a different sort. He co-wrote more than 60 songs with Brazilian musician Raul Seixas.
Coelho is the founder of the Paulo Coelho Institute, a non-profit organization funded by his royalties that raises money for underprivileged children and the elderly in his homeland of Brazil.
In our interview with Coelho, he shared some fascinating facts about himself:
"I have been practicing archery for a long time; a bow and arrow helps me to unwind."
"In writing, I apply my feminine side and respect the mystery involved in creation."
"I love almost everything about my work, except conferences. I am too shy in front of an audience. But I love signings and having eye contact with a reader who already knows my soul."
Chapter One
Before these statements left my desk and followed the fate I eventually chose for them, I considered using them as the basis for a traditional, painstakingly researched biography, recounting a true story. And so I read various biographies, thinking this would help me, only to realize that the biographer's view of his subject inevitably influences the results of his research. Since it wasn't my intention to impose my own opinions on the reader, but to set down the story of "the Witch of Portobello" as seen by its main protagonists, I soon abandoned the idea of writing a straight biography and decided that the best approach would be simply to transcribe what people had told me.
Heron Ryan, forty-four, journalist
No one lights a lamp in order to hide it behind the door: the purpose of light is to create more light, to open people's eyes, to reveal the marvels around.
No one sacrifices the most important thing she possesses: love.
No one places her dreams in the hands of those who might destroy them.
No one, that is, but Athena.
A long time after Athena's death, her former teacher asked me to go with her to the town of Prestonpans in Scotland. There, taking advantage of certain ancient feudal powers that were due to be abolished the following month, the town had granted official pardons to eighty-one people—and their cats—who were executed in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries for practicing witchcraft.
According to the official spokeswoman for the Barons Courts of Prestoungrange & Dolphinstoun: "Most of those personscondemned . . . were convicted on the basis of spectral evidence—that is to say, prosecuting witnesses declared that they felt the presence of evil spirits or heard spirit voices."
There's no point now in going into all the excesses committed by the Inquisition, with its torture chambers and its bonfires lit by hatred and vengeance; however, on our way to Prestonpans, Edda said several times that there was something about that gesture which she found unacceptable: the town and the Fourteenth Baron of Prestoungrange & Dolphinstoun were "granting pardons" to people who had been brutally executed.
"Here we are in the twenty-first century, and yet the descendants of the real criminals, those who killed the innocent victims, still feel they have the right to grant pardons. Do you know what I mean, Heron'"
I did. A new witch hunt is starting to gain ground. This time the weapon isn't the red-hot iron, but irony and repression. Anyone who happens to discover a gift and dares to speak of their abilities is usually regarded with distrust. Generally speaking, their husband, wife, father, or child, or whoever, instead of feeling proud, forbids all mention of the matter, fearful of exposing their family to ridicule.
Before I met Athena, I thought all such gifts were a dishonest way of exploiting people's despair. My trip to Transylvania to make a documentary on vampires was also a way of proving how easily people are deceived. Certain superstitions, however absurd they may seem, remain in the human imagination and are often used by unscrupulous people. When I visited Dracula's castle, which has been reconstructed merely to give tourists the feeling that they're in a special place, I was approached by a government official who implied that I would receive a "significant" (to use his word) gift when the film was shown on the BBC. In the mind of that official, I was helping to propagate the myth and thus deserved a generous reward. One of the guides said that the number of visitors increased each year, and that any mention of the place would prove positive, even a program saying that the castle was a fake, that Vlad Dracula was a historical figure who had nothing to do with the myth, and that it was all merely a product of the wild imaginings of one Irishman [Editor's note: Bram Stoker], who had never even visited the region.
I knew then that, however rigorous I was with the facts, I was unwittingly collaborating with the lie; even if the idea behind my script was to demythologize the place, people would believe what they wanted to believe; the guide was right, I would simply be helping to generate more publicity. I immediately abandoned the project, even though I'd already spent quite a lot of money on the trip and on my research.
And yet my journey to Transylvania was to have a huge impact on my life, for I met Athena there when she was trying to track down her mother. Destiny—mysterious, implacable Destiny—brought us face-to-face in the insignificant foyer of a still more insignificant hotel. I was witness to her first conversation with Deidre—or Edda, as she likes to be called. I watched, as if I were a spectator of my own life, as my heart struggled vainly not to allow itself to be seduced by a woman who didn't belong to my world. I applauded when reason lost the battle, and all I could do was surrender and accept that I was in love.
That love led me to see things I'd never imagined could exist—rituals, materializations, trances. Believing that I was blinded by love, I doubted everything, but doubt, far from paralyzing me, pushed me in the direction of oceans whose very existence I couldn't admit. It was this same energy which, in difficult times, helped me to confront the cynicism of journalist colleagues and to write about Athena and her work. And since that love remains alive, the energy remains, even though Athena is dead, even though all I want now is to forget what I saw and learned. I could only navigate that world while hand in hand with Athena.
These were her gardens, her rivers, her mountains. Now that she's gone, I need everything to return as quickly as possible to how it used to be. I'm going to concentrate more on traffic problems, Britain's foreign policy, on how we administer taxes. I want to go back to thinking that the world of magic is merely a clever trick, that people are superstitious, that anything science cannot explain has no right to exist.
The Witch of Portobello LP. Copyright © by Paulo Coelho. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.Anonymous
Posted February 23, 2009
I picked up Paulo Coelho's The Witch of Portobello because I liked the Alchemist, and I liked the idea of an exploration into feminine spirituality. I found that I was hooked into the story initially because of the immediate revelation that the main character had been murdered and the unconventional writing style of having the story about her be told by the testimonies of the people who knew her. As easy as it was to get into the book, I found it that difficult to finish. The initial intrigue into the main character's life turned into boredom over the details of her strange life. If the unusual nature of her life was supposed to reveal some understanding of the divine feminine, I found that it was only superficial at best and left me unsatisfied at the end of the book.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 16, 2008
You will actually have to read this novel all the way to the last paragraph to get it. Don't give up half way through. Initially, I was like, 'what is this....book about really'. But I continued to read it, because I purchased it in Paris, with euros, and paid a premium. This is, how and why I ultimately decided to finish the book.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 12, 2007
That your broke and not so good looking? Read Coelho and have your self doubts reinforced. Supposedly we all need to know that there is more to life than ... say... life, but why people think that that 'more' is supplied by Paulo Coelho is beyond me. I have always avoided his books ¿ catch phrases like: '65 million people can't be wrong', and 'publishing phenomenon', don't convince me a good writer is involved. Unfortunately while I was out of town my book club selected 'The Witch of Portobello' and I knew I was in for it. Other than being a quick read, which probably appeals to many of Coelho's readers, I have nothing good to say about this book. The main character is rich, one dimensional and well connected and so is everyone else she comes across. Her transformation through travel, work and study is written like a fable '...a client at the bank where I work ...told me that your a wise man', and yet there is nothing allegorical or fantastical in this fairy-tale. Characters in 'The Witch of Portobello' do not journey, rather they tour trendy locations and experience things that could be plucked out of a Lonely Planet Guide Book. They do not study with discipline rather they get into circular arguments with their supposed teachers and bosses, usually over wine, and miraculously they stumble upon riches and magical powers. Finacially secure and nowhere else to go but up the main character, a single mother and college drop out, becomes a living deity. When the media gets curious Coelho offs her in a typical fashion and everyone goes back home to their pile of bills. All I can say is if this works for you, you deserve nothing but the best!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 29, 2007
This book started out quite strong. It reminded me greatly of Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse in its spiritual themes of seeking greater meaning in everyday life and the beauty of the connections between everything in existence. However, about half way through the novel the spiritual ideas start to break down into flowery words and concepts that contradict each other and have little meaning or importance. Still, it was worth reading.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This tale was spellbinding. I love the character Athena, she was so capivating, mysterious & unique in a very interesting way. Even though the story starts off with point of view from her family, friends and lovers. Athena had the ability to fasinate people with her wisdom. Which had people follow her, also had some others that try to end her.
The Witch of Portobello was an extraordinary story that I've never wanted to end. Paulo Coelho is an amazing writer and never disappoints me.
Anonymous
Posted January 24, 2012
This book was a great read. Could not put it down.
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Posted January 7, 2012
Compelling
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 3, 2011
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Anonymous
Posted November 11, 2011
Great
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.TayShae
Posted August 16, 2011
I absolutely love Paulo Coehlo. I think this is his greatest book. This book is very inspiring. I felt a sort of freedom being awaken inside of me as i read it.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This was what I call an ignorant snatch-I am racing past the audio books in my library, the name Paulo Coelho catches my eye, my hand reaches out on some self-propelled errand. The book has never found a place on my out-of-control To Be Read list, but somehow it has found its way onto my MP3 player in audio format. And glad I am of it.
This book could not be described as plot driven by any stretch of the imagination. It is the story of Athena, a young woman who discovers that she has unusual abilities-the kind of abilities which in a less enlightened age would have condemned her to burn at the stake; but is this age really more enlightened? Throughout the book, which is told from various viewpoints, we follow Athena as she teaches herself, is taught by others, and ultimately becomes a teacher herself. As she works her way through the mediums of dance, calligraphy, and meditation, we see her discover her "center" and learn to channel an ancient spirit, giving voice to wisdom and warning.
As a Christian, there were times when the themes of the book made me more than a little uncomfortable, but as the story flowed on, carried by Paulo Coelho's intense, gripping characters, one central truism came into focus. At the core of each of us there is a soul, and no matter what higher being we pledge ourself to (if indeed any at all) the essence of who we are is unchanged. In my attempt to better understand my soul I have never employed any of the same practices as Athena, but I can wholly understand her journey to find her center, because I have a traveled the same journey. I have simply followed a different path.
The characters narrate chapters in turn, giving the reader a variety of viewpoints. As previously mentioned, I listened to the audio narrated by Rita Wolf, who did a marvelous job infusing distinct personalities into each character.
Those not of a New Age mindset might find the premise of the book a little much to handle, but if you can let go long enough to immerse yourself in the beauty of the writing-Coelho paints characters of astounding depth-you will find a good deal of insight here. While character development is the driving force of the novel, there is of course some element of a plot, complete with a hint of mystery and suspense, which Coelho brings to a sound conclusion.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 19, 2011
a 21st century messiah story done in Cliff notes.biblical style. This story pretty much tells the story of a woman heralding the return of the Great Mother who was never really gone anyway, just ignored by women as they proceed to disenfranchise themselves, for literally god knows what. The confusion, the resulting persecution. Even the ending has a sense of death and rebirth. One correction tho, when it comes to parthenagenesis or imaculate conception, the resulting child can only be female. So we know that part of the myth can be put to rest finally.
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Posted April 13, 2011
i enjoyed reading this book i hope that when you read this book you well like it.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I highly anticipated reading this book. It has been NOTHING similar to what I expected. The plot is messy and the characters are weakly developed. Aside from this, I feel like the writing style is repetitive and dull. There is no real 'spark' or 'wow factor' about this novel. I would not reccommend this to anyone.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This book was not at all what I expected. It was boring and confusing. No real plot and honestly a waste of time. It took me two weeks to read, when I usually read a book in a day or two. I finished it only because I wanted to find out the outcome at the end and even that was disappointing.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I love Paulo Coehlo. The Alchemist is one of my favorite books and I don't know anyone that doesn't feel the same way about it. I thought I would be left just as amazed at the end of this book as I did by The Alchemist, but it paled in comparison. Overall, I'm glad I read it because it did have its profound moments. Coehlo will never fail to teach you something new about life, spirituality, expectations, love, and so on...However, I guess because I've seen him do it so much better,this book just failed to live up to his other works. The characters were engaging enough, and I did root for them to succeed and find what they were looking for on their spiritual journey. However, sometimes I found myself detached from the whole "worshipping of the Goddess" thing and I began to just try to find more general messages. I liked the plot, the characters were complex and relatable, and overall I think it is a good read. However, if I were to make a reccomendation, I would say definitely read Coelho's The Alchemist, and if you get around to it- this is an okay read.
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Posted January 2, 2010
I've never read a Coelho I didn't like. His style is enchanting and transcendental.
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Posted September 5, 2009
I have recently become a huge fan of Paulo Coelho. He is a remarkable author with a unique vision in each of his works. Each story is simple and captivating while having an incredible application to the human condition.
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Posted June 14, 2009
This book is provocative, and an enjoyable read.
It is philosophical, but does NOT hold a candle to: The Alchemist, also by Coelho.
However, I really enjoyed the mysticism and pathos of the characters in The Witch of Portobello.
The literary writing style and concepts presented are very thought provoking, allowing the reader to ruminate over their impact long after reading the book.
This is a very dreamy, existential book, worth the time spent reading it.
Paulo is my favorite author...I loved the Alchemist and Veronika Decides to Die. However, this one was really weird. It was a little too bazzare for me, if you know what I mean. The character Athena mad me mad through the whole book and I struggled with turning the pages. However, I did like the lessons on spirituality and philosophy and how each character expressed their own narration, but other than that, I was a bit annoyed.
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Overview
How do we find the courage to always be true to ourselves—even if we are unsure of who we are?
That is the central question of international bestselling author Paulo Coelho's profound new work, The Witch of Portobello. It is the story of a mysterious woman named Athena, told by the many who knew her well—or hardly at all. Like The Alchemist, The Witch of Portobello is the kind of story that will transform the way readers think about love, passion, joy, and sacrifice.