„It is not worth demonizing this book.” About the Alchemist Paulo Coelho Three Decades From the First Polish Edition

Abstract

The article discusses the critical reception and readers' reactions to the Polish edition of Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist (1995). The focus was mainly on the years 1998-2003, when the Brazilian writer and his novel were most popular. The scale of the novel's sales success was presented. The main controversies that it aroused were discussed: the genesis of the work and the degree of originality, the meaning and message of the work, the reasons for the emergence of the fashion for Coelho's work.