5. His Publishing Company. However, his mother was of the opinion that Coelho should do pursue something along the lines of his father, who was an engineer. He received many literary awards. Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho was born on the 24 August 1947 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Early Life. Fascination with … Paulo Coelho interesting facts. Coelho attended Jesuit schools and was raised by devout Catholic ... Pilgrimage. 4. Interesting facts about Paulo Coelho As any Brazilian he loves football, but his favourite sport is When he married for the forth time, instead of wearing a ring he made a tattoo with the image of butterfly Jacques Chirac gave him the title of the National Order of the Legion of His Kidnapping. His novel Alchemist has been translated into 80 languages and is recommended for extracurricular reading in many schools in Europe. A Magician – No wonder. 10 Most Interesting Facts About Paulo Coelho 1. Coelho dropped out of law school in 1970 and traveled through South America, Mexico, North … 1.He went to a mental asylum: When Paulo Coelho told his mom that he wanted to be a writer and expressed his views of not following the ‘traditional path’ of living a life, his parents got worried and got him admitted to a mental institution. Paulo Coelho Has a Fascinating Writing Ritual: The theme of omens has influenced Coelho’s work from the Alchemist onward, and it is a facet of his writing influenced from his life. Coelho pays a great deal of attention to omens, and one in particular – he will start writing a new book only after finding a white feather. Personal Life. Coelho was raised in Rio de Janeiro. 3. Fact Check. Paulo Coelho was born on August 24, 1947 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As An adolescent, Coelho expressed a longing to become a writer. Interesting facts about Paulo Coelho – a living legendary writer Paul Coelho, a Brazil born lyricist and novelist. Paulo Coelho Biography. Education Born into a Catholic family, Coelho was sent to a Jesuit school. 2. He was 16 at that time and tried to escape three times until he was finally released at 20. He is now the world’s widely read … He rebelled against the conventions of his Roman Catholic upbringing and, as a result, was temporarily committed to a psychiatric hospital by his parents. In 2009, Paulo Coelho was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the author of the world's most translated novel (Alchemist). Coelho was born on August 24, 1947, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 'The Alchemist'. His Weird Internships.