Although being the first non-Moslem occidental writer who has traveled
to Iran since the Islamic revolution in 1979, his novel "The Zahir" was
banned there (2005).
Big supporter of the Brazilian national soccer team.
After abandoning his studies at a law school in 1970, he traveled
throughout Americas and Europe.
Has sold over 86 million books in over 150 countries and his works,
which include "The Alchemist", "The Pilgrimage", "Eleven Minutes" and
"Veronica Decides to Die", have been translated into 56
languages.