The Zahir - Softcover

Coelho, Paulo

Softcover

ISBN 10: 073228449X ISBN 13: 9780732284497

Publisher: HarperCollins,Australia, 2006

Synopsis

It begins with a glimpse or a passing thought. It ends in obsession One day a renowned author discovers that his wife, a war correspondent, has disappeared leaving no trace. Was she kidnapped, blackmailed, or simply bored with their marriage? His search for her - and for the truth of his own life - takes him from South America to Spain, France, Croatia and, eventually, the bleakly beautiful landscape of Central Asia. More than that, it leads him into a new understanding of the nature of love, the power of destiny and what it really means to follow your heart.

About this title

Review

'Coelho's writing is beautifully poetic but his message is what counts... he gives me hope and puts a smile on my face.' DAILY EXPRESS

'His books have had a life-enhancing impact on millions of people.' THE TIMES

'One of the few to deserve the term "Publishing Phenomenon".' THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

'Coelho's talent to inspire his readers with wisdom and hope, while offering them an insight into the struggle that everyone encounters in their journey through life, is as strong as ever. There is a forgiving kindness and humanity that is unmistakeable and tremendously appealing.’ DAILY MAIL

From the Author

What is the central idea behind The Zahir?
That the unexpected happens, and that we’re not always prepared for it. When everything in our life appears to be organised, that is the danger-point, because what we call "organisation" is really just a story we’ve been told, but it’s not a story that can be sustained. I try to explore the story we haven’t been told, taking as my main character a successful writer who, when his wife suddenly leaves him, is forced to reassess his life. However, instead of taking a step forward and discovering new opportunities, he becomes obsessed by the question: "Why did my wife leave me?" and that turns into his Zahir.
What is a Zahir?
According to the writer Jorge Luis Borges, the idea of the Zahir comes from the Islamic tradition and probably arose in the eighteenth century. In Arabic "zahir" means "visible", "present", "incapable of going unnoticed". It can refer to an object or a person, and that object or person gradually takes over our every thought, until we are unable to think of anything else. This could be considered a state of holiness or a state of madness.
The Zahir can be a person, a job, an objective, but the attempt to possess or achieve it never brings us happiness, instead, it becomes an unhealthy obsession. Unfortunately, this is an experience everyone goes through.
Can a person have more than one Zahir in their life?
As frustrations accumulate, Zahirs appear. That way, we don’t think about how to solve the problem, instead we become fixated on its image.
It’s one thing to follow our dreams and to believe in the signs that guide us on our way. Then we have a goal to aim at, but we also enjoy the journey. With a Zahir we don’t get that same feeling of joy with every step we take, only the stubborn desire to get what we believe to be necessary for us to live.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins,Australia
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 073228449X
• ISBN 13: 9780732284497
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 368