Genius and madness often touch in the mind of one person. How these categories get along together, no one really knows. Paulo Coelho experienced terrible moments in his life and felt the heady taste of public recognition.
Childhood and youth
The practice of many generations shows that not every talented person manages to defend his right to devote his strength and his life to his favorite occupation. As a rule, the influence of parents, their point of view is decisive in the discussion about the future of the child. This also happened in the Coelho family. The parents insisted that their son receive the prestigious and respected profession of a lawyer. However, Paulo had his own opinion on this matter. And as a result, a situation developed that can be described in the following words - I found a scythe on a stone.
The future writer was born on August 24, 1947 in a prosperous family. Parents at that time lived in the famous city of Rio de Janeiro. Father and mother worked in engineering positions in a large construction company. When the time came, the boy was sent to a Catholic school. Within the walls of this educational institution, children were brought up in a spirit of rivalry and striving for superiority over others. At the same time, each student tried to develop individual talents.
Suffering and wandering
The learning outcomes brought unexpected results - the young man decided that he would become a writer. However, the family council did not want to hear about it. Under the persistent influence of his parents, Paulo decided to enter the law faculty of the capital's university. But he did not study even a semester. Then his family considered him mentally ill and was placed for treatment in a psychiatric clinic. Electric shock and will-suppressing drugs did not help. The young man chose the moment and escaped from the hospital. He wandered for a long time, was ill, needed money. And I was forced to return home.
After that, the parents retreated. Paulo became involved in journalism and performed on the stage of street theater as an actor. He wrote extensively and published articles in local newspapers. Then he went on a long trip to the countries of Central America and North Africa. Back home, Coelho wrote and published a book called The Way of the Magician. The novel "Alchemist" brought wide popularity to the writer, which was published in more than a hundred countries.
Recognition and privacy
The writer traveled a lot and wrote a lot. His novels, short stories and parables have been published with a total circulation of 85 million copies. Paulo Coelho's books are especially popular in English-speaking countries. And in Iran, his works are prohibited.
The writer's personal life is worthy of a separate description. But to put it briefly - today he lives in his fourth marriage. A wife named Christina supports her husband in all his endeavors. As they say in sentimental novels, she serves him as a support, a muse, and a caring nanny. The writer has no children.
