By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept: A Novel of Forgiveness

From Paulo Coelho, the renowned author of The Alchemist, comes a deeply moving and poetic novel that explores the timeless depths of love, forgiveness, and self-discovery

By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept tells the heartfelt story of Pilar, a strong yet guarded woman, and her childhood friend, now a charismatic spiritual leader. Reuniting after eleven years, their relationship takes them on an emotional and spiritual odyssey in a small village in the French Pyrenees. Against the backdrop of the River Piedra, they confront unresolved pain, long-buried emotions, and ultimately, the quest to find love and freedom and confront some of life's most important questions.

As their bond deepens, Pilar is drawn into her friend's world of faith and miracles, challenging her own beliefs and understanding of life's purpose and her own femininity. Along this journey, Pilar must wrestle with her fears of vulnerability and the possibility of losing herself in the process of rediscovering love.

Both an ethereal love story and a powerful exploration of how discovering our inner spiritual being--and forgiving ourselves, and others--can reshape our lives in completely unexpected ways. Paulo Coelho's masterful storytelling and poetic prose inspires us to uncover the extraordinary hidden within the ordinary and the intimate moments that bring magic into our lives, and the every day.

A stunning and unforgettable exploration divine love, human connection, intimate self-reflection, and the sacrifices that come with following one's true path--and heart.

One of the most influential writers of our time, Paulo Coelho is the author of thirty international bestsellers, including The Alchemist, Warrior of the Light, Brida, Veronika Decides to Die, and Eleven Minutes. He is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters and a United Nations Messenger of Peace. Paulo is the recipient of 115 international prizes and awards, among them, the Chevalier de l'Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur (Legion of Honor). Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1947, he soon discovered his vocation for writing. He worked as a director, theater actor, songwriter, and journalist. In 1986, a special meeting led him to make the pilgrimage to Saint James Compostela (in Spain). The Road to Santiago was not only a common pilgrimage but a turning point in his existence. A year later, he wrote The Pilgrimage, an autobiographical novel that is considered the beginning of his literary career. He lives in Geneva, Switzerland.