The explosion of racial hate in an Alabama town is viewed by a little girl whose father defends a black man accused of rape

This text is a magical fable about learning to listen to your heart, read the omens strewn along life's path and, above all, following your dreams. The book tells the story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who dreams of travelling the world in search of a worldly treasure as fabulous as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers, and from there into the Egyptian desert, where a fateful encounter with the alchemist awaits him. With a visionary blend of spirituality, magical realism and folklore, the author hopes that The Alchemist has the power to inspire nations and change people's lives.