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Paulo Coelho
Literature
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Paulo Coelho is one of the most influential authors of this century. Translated into 56 languages in over 150 countries, his books touch the aspirations of millions of readers, irrespective of their creed and culture, and have gone on to spark social and cultural debate.
Born in 1947 to an upper middle class family in Brazil, Coelho knew he wanted to write from an early age. Collaboration with the musician and composer Raul Seixas led to huge success in the music industry and the pair then began to publish a comic-strip series calling for more freedoms in Brazil. The dictatorship however, considered these subversive, and both men were detained and imprisoned. Just two days after his release, he was again imprisoned and this time tortured. Coelho has led an extreme life and travelled extensively, which has greatly influenced his work as a novelist.
As a former Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience, it is no surprise that Coelho is a staunch supporter of Human Rights. He is the founder of the Paulo Coelho Institute, which provides support and opportunities for disadvantaged Brazilians, serves as special advisor to UNESCO, and as a board member of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. A prominent supporter of Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award, Coelho attended the award ceremonies in 2003 and 2004.
Photo credit: © Paulo Coelho 1996-2004
www.paulocoelho.com www.artforamnesty.org/aoc
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