Product Description

Published in over 100 countries, translated into 42 different languages, with over 21 million copies of his books sold internationally, Paulo Coelho can truly claim to be one of the most popular writers in the world. The Independent on Sunday has called him a 'publishing phenomenon'. Paulo's writing is a visionary blend of spirituality, magical realism and folklore. His stories are simple and direct, yet they have the power to change lives and inspire you with the courage to follow your dreams...His fifth novel, The Fifth Mountain, is set in the 9th century BC. Elijah is a young man struggling to maintain his sanity amidst a chaotic world of tyranny and war. Forced to flee his home, then choose between his newfound love and security and his overwhelming sense of duty, this is a moving and inspiring story about how we can transcend even the most terrible ordeals by keeping faith and love alive.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #33933 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Review
'His books have and a life-enhancing impact on millions of people' The Times 'His writing is like a path of energy that inadvertently leads readers to themselves, toward their mysterious and faraway souls.' Figaro Litteraire, France 'Paulo Coelho represents the legend of the wise storyteller.' Corriere della Sera, Italy

An international best seller by Brizillian story teller Coelho, this novel is based on the biblical accounts of the trials of Elijah, an Israelite prophet who has spoken with angels since childhood. Elijah is forced to flee when princess Jezebel seduces the country's ruler and converts the people to worship Israel Baal and the many gods of the Fifth Mountain. Guided by his guardian angel, Elijah takes refuge in a poor widows house in neighbouring Akbar. His only thought is to avenge his God by desposing Jezebel as soon as he can get back to Israel, but as his love for the widow grows steadily deeper he is thrown into conflict. Turmoil also reigns in Akbar, and Elijah is caught in a deadly power struggle as soldiers from Assyria threaten to destroy the city. The central question of this pacy and intriguing novel, full of ideas about divinity love and power, is; what can we do when we face the unavoidable? We find that when the moment of ruin, or death, arrives there is no room for fear. Through the chaos and conlict of a war torn city, Coelho shows us the courage of spirit that can rise up following the decimation of the old. In the novel, this idea is also symbolized by the new writing of Byblos, the alphabet, which promises universal access to information, knowledge and therefore power. Coelho represents terror and tragedy, death and loss as they truly are. Indeed, his wisdom and compassion make the atrocities described even more startling. The novel suggests that when we stop running away, and face the world as it really is, then will we discover the strength to overcome our sufferings, and truly grow from our experiences. This stunning story is an allegory of the the trials of the human soul as well as a gripping narrative centred around emotionally complex characters. Fascinating, moving and ultimately inspiring. (Kirkus UK)

A huge improvement over Brazilian author Coelho's last, the gucky religious romance By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept (1996). The carpenter Elijah, at age 23, knows he's a prophet because an angel keeps visiting him and giving him orders on what to do with his life. The Israelites and their One God live under the heels of the Phoenicians and of the slinky Jezebel of Samaria, worshipper of Baal. Jezebel sends her troops and priests out to slay all Israelite prophets, of whom there are many, and so Elijah's angel tells him to flee to the desert, where a crow will feed him daily. Indeed, the crow not only feeds him but talks to him as well, although Elijah insists that he's really talking only with himself. Then the angel appears again, this time telling Elijah that he must avenge the Lord - a plan that includes his going to Akbar and living with a widow. The widow at first resists taking him in. And when her boy dies, the townsfolk take the Israelite's presence as a curse and the cause of the child's death. The priests send Elijah up on Baal's Fifth Mountain, where they assume he'll be consumed by fire. Instead, of course, his angel appears and tells him to return to the widow and raise her boy from the dead. This he does, though the priests don't accept the miracle. In a later test of faith, Elijah, triumphing over these same priests, sets in motion a series of events leading both to Jezebel's death and Baal's humbling. Eventually, Elijah - still alive - is carried off to heaven in a chariot of fire. Compellingly, everyone keeps keen score on the gods as if they are strangely real rival sports teams. Coelho meanwhile handles religion, politics, battles, plagues, the earthshaking arrival of the alphabet, and the destruction and rebuilding of Akbar with realism, suspense, and down-to-earth dialogue. Surprisingly persuasive storytelling. (Kirkus Reviews)

Synopsis
Published in over 100 countries, translated into 42 different languages, with over 21 million copies of his books sold internationally, Paulo Coelho can truly claim to be one of the most popular writers in the world. The Independent on Sunday has called him a 'publishing phenomenon'. Paulo's writing is a visionary blend of spirituality, magical realism and folklore. His stories are simple and direct, yet they have the power to change lives and inspire you with the courage to follow your dreams...His fifth novel, The Fifth Mountain, is set in the 9th century BC. Elijah is a young man struggling to maintain his sanity amidst a chaotic world of tyranny and war. Forced to flee his home, then choose between his newfound love and security and his overwhelming sense of duty, this is a moving and inspiring story about how we can transcend even the most terrible ordeals by keeping faith and love alive.

About the Author
Paulo Coelho was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1947. Having travelled extensively throughout Latin America, as well as Europe and North Africa, he was at various times a playwright, a theatre director , and a popular songwriter for some of Brazil's most famous pop musicians. With the publication of his first books, The Pilgrimage (1987) and The Alchemist (1988) he embarked on a career that would establish him as Brazil's best known novelist. His books have sold more than 21 million copies world wide and have been translated into 42 languages. He has received numerous literary awards from a wide variety of countries. His books dominate the bestseller lists in France, Italy, Germany & Greece.

Customer Reviews

Another `Alchemist' it's not.

Paulo Coelho writes beautifully, and it's very easy to get swept up in his prose, but I felt that this time there was something rushed in his storytelling.

More overtly religious and less poetic than his other books I've read (The Alchemist, Veronica Decides to Die, Eleven Minutes), and although the usual faith-hope-justice theme was present here too, the story here was less meandering, the twists and turns here were more abrupt, and his hero's efforts seemed to me to be to a large extent futile.

Having said that, I read this book in almost a single sitting and definitely enjoyed reading it, but it didn't make me feel inspired or elated like some of his previous works.
(I'd rate it three-and-a-half stars if I could.)

Wonderful!
I did read all his books and they are wonderful!
Many thanks to Paulo, he opened my eyes on many things that I didn't see or understood before!!!

An oasis of comfort
I would like to thank the author for clarifying a number of confusing and conflicting thoughts, emotions and events within my spiritual developmment with God. I found immense strength in the dillemas in which Elijah found himself - his indecisiveness mirrors my own, but the important truth lies with true faith in the ability of God. Coelho successfully brings to life the biblical experience and allows us to parallel with old testament lives steeped in law yet showing us how faith can break the curses of such law. cheers.