Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14975 in Books
• Published on: 1999-09-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Synopsis
An extraordinary mixture of adventure story and guide to self-knowledge, this book recounts the spectacular trials of Paulo and his mentor, Petrus, as they journey across Spain in search of a miraculous sword. A compelling tale that delivers a powerful brew of magic and insight, The Pilgrimage recounts the amazing trials of Paulo Coelho and his mysterious mentor, Petrus, as they journey across Spain in search of a miraculous sword -- on a legendary road travelled by pilgrims of San Tiago since the Middle Ages. Paulo's visionary blend of mysticism, magical realism and folklore makes this an adventure story with a difference.

Customer Reviews

I loved other Coelho books but HATED this one.
This is Coelho's first book, written before he became famous and before the Alchemist. I was impressed by the Alchemist, 11 Minutes and the Zahir but I was bemused and trully horrified by this supposedly true story. I think it shows how traditional religion can distort people's perception of reality and led me to doubt Coelho's intelligence and sanity. It made me concerned that others might be persuaded to explore Christian mystic sects and take superstition seriously or even attempt to copy some of the extreme techniques in the book which seemed to describe Coelho engaging with demonic voices in his head... Does he suffer from schizophrenia? I think it shows how organised religion can be damaging and how people can be taken in by cults. Dangerous rubbish.

Reading this book as a "true story" which is what it claims to be, requires shelving your critical faculties. It was like reading the ramblings of a madman. I forced myself to read to the end and then binned it. It is the first time I have ever binned a book rather than donating to a charity shop.

Stuff and Nonsense
I am interested in spirituality and also planning to walk The Camino next year so I decided to buy this book, having never read a Coelho novel before. It is absolute rubbish from beginning to end. Badly written from a literary point of view (the English translation can't have helped), it is full of inane symbolism, endless spiritual RAM exercises (who decides what their purpose is, I suppose Paulo himself?) and constant references to different kinds of love, of which Coelho's frequent outpourings of "agape" (Greek for love) are naive at best. I never throw books away, but this one went straight into the recycling bin after I had pushed myself to finish it. A stupid and useless book, must appeal only to unhinged "spiritual travellers" and assorted bozos. Avoid at all costs.

A Private Journey to Explore Self
Although "The Pilgrimage" is not Paulo Coelho's most exalted work, it is still a wonderful plunge into the mystical journey. In this book, he chronicles his own experiences on the road to Santiago de Compostela in the region of Galicia known as Celtic Spain. The journey is rich with allegory reflecting how we must face our own fears in order to engage in what he calls "the good fight". The Pilgrimage is reminiscent of Carlos Castañeda's apprenticeship with his mentor Don Juan. Paulo's guide is the enigmatic Petrus, who teaches him to face his own limitations and to break him from the "modernist" notion that our busy work is more important than exploring our inner world. There is a sweet discovery about the book that brings presence to a wisdom that includes mystical exercises worthy of our attention.