 Coelho believes art has the power to cross political divides |
In a Hardtalk Extra interview broadcast on 19th August Mishal Husain talks to Paulo Coelho, one of Brazil's most influential novelists.
Paulo Coelho's breakthrough novel, The Alchemist, made him Brazil's most successful living author. It has been translated into over sixty languages.
Like no other writer, Coelho has been able to connect with readers across national and religious boundaries.
A sign of his unique status, he became the first non-Muslim artist since the revolution to be invited on an official visit to Iran.
He tells Mishal Husain why the critics will never get to him and why he feels it is more important than ever to forge better links between the world's religions.
HARDtalk Extra can be seen on Fridays on BBC World at 03:30 GMT, 08:30 GMT, 15:30 GMT, 18:30 GMT and 23:30 GMT.
It can also be seen on BBC News 24 at 04:30 and 23:30
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Click here to watch the full interview 
