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. Though time brings more success and new love, he remains mystified – and increasingly fascinated – by her absence. Was she kidnapped, blackmailed, or simply bored with their marriage? The unrest she causes is as strong as the attraction she exerts.
His search for her – and for the truth of his own life – takes him from France to Spain, Croatia and, eventually, the bleakly beautiful landscape of Central Asia. More than that, it takes him from the safety of his world to a totally unknown path, searching for a new understanding of the nature of love and the power of destiny.
With The Zahir, Paulo Coelho demonstrates not just his powerful and captivating storytelling, but also his extraordinary insight into what it is to be a human being in a world full of possibility.
In Arabic Zahir means 'visible, present and unable to go unnoticed.' It refers to something or someone that ends up being the only thing we can think of. This state of 'possession' can be understood as saintliness or insanity, with a fine line between the two.
© 2009 HarperCollins (Audiobook): 9780007311866
Release date
Audiobook: 5 January 2009
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. Though time brings more success and new love, he remains mystified – and increasingly fascinated – by her absence. Was she kidnapped, blackmailed, or simply bored with their marriage? The unrest she causes is as strong as the attraction she exerts.
His search for her – and for the truth of his own life – takes him from France to Spain, Croatia and, eventually, the bleakly beautiful landscape of Central Asia. More than that, it takes him from the safety of his world to a totally unknown path, searching for a new understanding of the nature of love and the power of destiny.
With The Zahir, Paulo Coelho demonstrates not just his powerful and captivating storytelling, but also his extraordinary insight into what it is to be a human being in a world full of possibility.
In Arabic Zahir means 'visible, present and unable to go unnoticed.' It refers to something or someone that ends up being the only thing we can think of. This state of 'possession' can be understood as saintliness or insanity, with a fine line between the two.
© 2009 HarperCollins (Audiobook): 9780007311866
Release date
Audiobook: 5 January 2009
Step into an infinite world of stories
Overall rating based on 320 ratings
Thought-provoking
Heartwarming
Inspiring
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Pranjali
29 Sept 2021
Amazing book!!!
Saki
17 Jun 2022
This is my third book by Paulo Coelho and it has been a delightful experience throughout. 'The Zahir' is a journey of a man and woman trying to heal in their own unique ways. The book tells me that healing is a process and there's no deadline. Marriage and love is a game of souls, not just the body. "Zahir, in Arabic, means visible, present, incapable of going unnoticed. It is someone or something which, once we have come into contact with them or it, gradually occupies our every thought, until we can think of nothing else. This can be considered either a state of holiness or of madness." In this book, for the man who goes out in search of his missing wife, his wife is his Zahir. 'The Zahir' is a tale of love, suffering, obsession, healing, self-discovery and peace. In the process of reading this book, Coelho made me come face to face with my Zahir as well. Soul-searching.I strongly recommend this book.
English
India