Frankfurt Book Fair 2023: Paulo Coelho Returns With 'Maktub'

Paulo Coelho’s new book, Maktub, will be published in a new global English-language edition in March 2024. The book, originally published in 1994 and subsequently translated into 20 languages (but not English), is a collection of columns that Paulo Coelho published during a year at the newspaper Folha de São Paulo.

The word Matktub means “it is written,” and the book offers a series of stories and parables inspired by sources and folklore from several places that pick up on different cultures’ wisdom and “invites readers on a journey of faith, self-reflection, and transformation,” according to HarperCollins.

The book is “not a book of advice—but an exchange of experiences,” said Coelho. He added that each story offers an illuminated path to see life and the lives of our fellow people around the world in new ways, allowing us to tap into universal truths about our collective and individual humanity. “A man who seeks only the light, while shirking his responsibilities, will never find illumination. And one who keeps his eyes fixed upon the sun… ends up blind,” Coelho said.

Judith Curr, president and publisher of HarperOne, explained that the book will first be published in the U.S. and Canada on March 5, with the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand publications to follow. “This collection of timeless stories of reflection and rediscovery will engage seekers of all ages and resonate deeply with Paulo Coelho’s millions of followers.”

Coelho is the author of 30 books which have been published in more than 170 countries; he has sold more than 22 million copies across formats in the U.S. alone. Coelho’s fan base numbers some 17.6 million followers across social media and millions of readers around the world.

Thorsons publishing director, Lydia Good, said: “We’re so lucky to have Paulo’s wonderful portfolio on the Thorson’s list, and are delighted to have the opportunity to publish this new translation for his millions of dedicated readers. There’s real excitement around the world for the English edition of Maktub, and we’re honored to be a part of it.”