A classic masterwork of spiritual tension and realization from Paulo Coelho, this powerful story of one man's battle with self-doubt and fear is now available in a beautiful new package from HarperOne. An essential volume alongside Coelho's other bestselling and influential books, such as The Alchemist, The Pilgrimage, Brida, and The Winner Stands Alone, the searing and unforgettable narrative in The Valkyries asks the questions most central to all literature-and all of humanity's quest for understanding. Why is it that we destroy the things we love most? And how can we learn to let go of the past and believe in the future? A Magical Tale About Forgiving Our Past and Believing in Our Future The enchanting, true story of The Valkyries begins in Rio de Janeiro when author Paulo Coelho gives his mysterious master J., the only manuscript for his book The Alchemist. Haunted by a devastating curse, Coelho confesses to J., "I?ve seen my dreams fall apart just when I seemed about to achieve them." In response, J. gives Coelho a daunting task: He must find and speak with his guardian angel. "The curse can be broken," he replies, "if you complete the task." Rising to the challenge, Paulo and his wife, Cristina, drop everything, pack their bags, and take off on a forty day adventure into the starkly beautiful and sometimes dangerous Mojave Desert where they encounter more than they bargained for. A masterful blend of the exotic locales, dramatic adventure, and magical storytelling, for which Coelho?s fictional works are renowned, this true-life account is at once a modern-day adventure and a metaphysical odyssey.
