Paulo Coelho, born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a Brazilian novelist known for employing rich symbolism in his depictions of the often spiritually motivated journeys taken by his characters. Coelho dropped out of law school in 1970 and traveled through South America, Mexico, North Africa, and Europe. In 1972 he returned home and began writing pop and rock music lyrics with Raul Seixas, a well-known Brazilian singer and songwriter. He worked for Polygram and CBS Records until 1980, wh...
The Witch of Portobello
The Witch of Portobello
Synopsis
Who was Athena? Born to a Roma mother in Transylvania, adopted by a wealthy Lebanese couple, and raised in London, Sherine "Athena" Khalil was many things to many people: a devoted mother, a bank employee, a dancer, a teacher, and — to some — a dangerous heretic and witch.
Told through the collected testimonies of the people who knew and loved her, Paulo Coelho's novel assembles her portrait piece by piece from clashing points of view. As Athena pursues an intense spiritual awakening and gathers followers drawn to her teachings about the sacred feminine and the divine Mother, she provokes both devotion and fear, and moves toward a reckoning that each witness remembers differently.
A layered meditation on identity, faith, motherhood, and the price of following an unconventional path.
Vibe
Genres
Characters
Athena (Sherine Khalil)Protagonist
An enigmatic spiritual teacher reconstructed through the testimonies of those who knew her.
Subjects
Places
Edition
The Witch of PortobelloPaperback, May
336 pages
HarperLuxeLanguage: EnglishISBN: 9780061358494Lrg edition5 editions available
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Frequently asked questions
Does The Witch of Portobello connect to Paulo Coelho's other books?
This novel explores spiritual themes and self-discovery, which are common threads throughout Paulo Coelho's work, but it features a distinct narrative and characters separate from his other well-known stories.
What is the narrative structure of The Witch of Portobello?
The story is told through a series of interviews and testimonies from various characters who knew the protagonist, Athena, offering multiple perspectives on her life and journey.