The Fifth Mountain - by Paulo Coelho (Paperback)

About the Book

In a masterpiece of spiritual fiction, the author of "The Alchemist" gives a moving account of the 23-year-old biblical prophet, Elijah, who must triumph over his frustrations in a soul-shattering trial of faith.

Book Synopsis

"More ambitious than The Alchemist. A thought-provoking tale." - TIME magazine

In The Fifth Mountain, Paulo Coelho takes us back to the ninth century, to the turbulent Middle East, where the prophet Elijah is struggling to keep his faith alive in a world of constant upheaval, tyrannical royalty, and pagan gods.

Elijah's story is a lesson in persistence, an exercise in hope, and a journey you will never forget. Inspired by a circumstance that forever altered Coelho's own life, The Fifth Mountain is a testament to the truth that tragedy in life should not be considered a punishment, but a challenge of the spirit. Gripping in its narrative and graceful in its prose, The Fifth Mountain teaches and inspires like no other novel. This is a timeless story for the ages, a tale of the past that resonates powerfully today.

From the Back Cover

In the ninth century b.c., the Phoenician princess Jezebel orders the execution of all the prophets who refuse to worship the pagan god Baal. Commanded by an angel of God to flee Israel, Elijah seeks safety in the land of Zarephath, where he unexpectedly finds true love with a young widow. But this newfound rapture is to be cut short, and Elijah sees all of his hopes and dreams irrevocably erased as he is swept into a whirlwind of events that threatens his very existence.

Written with the same masterful prose and clarity of vision that made The Alchemist an international phenomenon, The Fifth Mountain is a quietly moving account of a man touched by the hand of God who must triumph over his frustrations in a soul-shattering trial of faith.

Review Quotes

"More ambitious...that "The Alchemist, " it is lightened by Coelho's appropriately spare writing style...A thought-provoking personal tale." -- "Time" magazine (international edition)