By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept - by Paulo Coelho (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

From Paulo Coelho, the renowned author of The Alchemist, comes a deeply moving and poetic novel that explores the timeless depths of love, forgiveness, and self-discovery

By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept tells the heartfelt story of Pilar, a strong yet guarded woman, and her childhood friend, now a charismatic spiritual leader. Reuniting after eleven years, their relationship takes them on an emotional and spiritual odyssey in a small village in the French Pyrenees. Against the backdrop of the River Piedra, they confront unresolved pain, long-buried emotions, and ultimately, the quest to find love and freedom and confront some of life's most important questions.

As their bond deepens, Pilar is drawn into her friend's world of faith and miracles, challenging her own beliefs and understanding of life's purpose and her own femininity. Along this journey, Pilar must wrestle with her fears of vulnerability and the possibility of losing herself in the process of rediscovering love.

Both an ethereal love story and a powerful exploration of how discovering our inner spiritual being--and forgiving ourselves, and others--can reshape our lives in completely unexpected ways. Paulo Coelho's masterful storytelling and poetic prose inspires us to uncover the extraordinary hidden within the ordinary and the intimate moments that bring magic into our lives, and the every day.

A stunning and unforgettable exploration divine love, human connection, intimate self-reflection, and the sacrifices that come with following one's true path--and heart.

From the Back Cover

From Paulo Coelho, author of the international bestseller The Alchemist, comes a poignant, richly poetic story that reflects the depth of love and life.

Rarely does adolescent love reach its full potential, but what happens when two young lovers reunite after eleven years? Time has transformed Pilar into a strong and independent woman, while her devoted childhood friend has grown into a handsome and charismatic spiritual leader. She has learned well how to bury her feelings . . . and he has turned to religion as a refuge from his raging inner conflicts.

Now they are together once again, embarking on a journey fraught with difficulties, as long-buried demons of blame and resentment resurface after more than a decade. But in a small village in the French Pyrenees, by the waters of the River Piedra, a most special relationship will be reexamined in the dazzling light of some of life's biggest questions.