The boy had been working for the crystal merchant for almost a month, and he could see that it wasn't exactly the kind of job that would make him happy. The merchant spent the entire day mumbling behind the counter, telling the boy to be careful with
Read more…Part 11 Chapter 1The crystal merchant awoke with the day, and felt the same anxiety that he felt every morning. He had been in the same place for thirty years: a shop at the top of a hilly street where few customers passed. Now it was too late to cha
Read more…Part 10 Chapter 1He was shaken into wakefulness by someone. He had fallen asleep in the middle of the marketplace, and life in the plaza was about to resume.Looking around, he sought his sheep, and then realized that he was in a new world. But instea
Read more…faith noun ( TRUST )/feɪθ/ n[U] great trust or confidence in something or someoneShe has no faith in modern medicine.You'll cope - I have great faith in you.After the trial, his family said they had lost all faith in the judicial system.Ministers mus
Read more…grouch verb/graʊtʃ/ v [I] informalto complain in an angry wayOh, stop grouching!grouch noun/graʊtʃ/ n [C] informala person who often complainsbump verb ( HIT )/bʌmp/ v•[I + adverb or preposition] to hit something with forceShe bumped into his tray, k
Read more…glassware noun/ˈglɑːs.weər / /ˈglæs.wer/ n [U]drinking glasses or other objects made of glassa display/collection of ornamental glasswarewell-heeled adjective/ˌwelˈhiːld/ adj informalrichHis family was very well-heeled.pouch noun ( BAG )/paʊtʃ/ n [C]
Read more…Part9 Chapter 1At the highest point in Tarifa there is an old fort, built by the Moors. From atop its walls, one can catch a glimpse of Africa. Melchizedek, the king of Salem, sat on the wall of the fort that afternoon, and felt the levanter blowing
Read more…Part8 Chapter 1tense adjective ( NERVOUS )/tent s/ adj•nervous and worried and unable to relaxShe was very tense as she waited for the interview.•If a situation is tense, it causes feelings of worry or nervousnessThere were some tense moments in the
Read more…Part8 Chapter 1The boy began again to read his book, but he was no longer able to concentrate. He was tense and upset, because he knew that the old man was right. He went over to the bakery and bought a loaf of bread, thinking about whether or not he
Read more…Part7 Chapter 1embarrassed adjective/ɪmˈbær.əst//-ˈber-/ adjfeeling ashamed or shyShe felt embarrassed about undressing in front of the doctor.[+ to infinitive] I was too embarrassed to admit that I was scared.financially embarrassedhumorous having n
Read more…Part5 Chapter 1The horizon was tinged with red, and suddenly the sun appeared. The boy thought back to that conversation with his father, and felt happy; he had already seen many castles and met many women (but none the equal of the one who awaited h
Read more…Part6 Chapter 1The old woman led the boy to a room at the back of her house; it was separated from her living room by a curtain of colored beads. The room's furnishings consisted of a table, an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and two chairs.The w
Read more…Part7 Chapter 1"I'm the king of Salem," the old man had said."Why would a king be talking with a shepherd?" the boy asked, awed and embarrassed."For several reasons. But let's say that the most important is that you have succeeded in discovering your
Read more…Part6 Chapter 1bead noun/biːd/ n [C]•a small coloured often round piece of plastic, wood, glass, etc. with a hole through it. It is usually put on a string with a lot of others to make jewelleryShe wore a necklace of brightly coloured wooden beads.•a
Read more…Part5 Chapter 1tinge verb/tɪndʒ/ v [T usually passive]to contain a slight amount ofHer joy at the birth of her son was tinged with sadness that her father had not lived to see him.tinged adjective/tɪndʒd/ adjHer dark hair is now tinged with grey.inex
Read more…wind sb up phrasal verb ( ANNOY )phrasal verb UK informal[M] to annoy or upset someoneIt really winds me up when he goes on about teachers having an easy life.She just knows how to wind me up.See also: wound upwind-up noun/ˈwaɪnd.ʌp/ n [C usually sin
Read more…Part2 Chapter 1"I need to sell some wool," the boy told the merchant.The shop was busy, and the man asked the shepherd to wait until the afternoon. So the boy sat on the steps of the shop and took a book from his bag."I didn't know shepherds knew how
Read more…Part3 Chapter 1And now it was only four days before he would be back in that same village. He was excited, and at the same time uneasy: maybe the girl had already forgotten him. Lots of shepherds passed through, selling their wool."It doesn't matter,
Read more…Part1 Chapter 1The boy's name was Santiago. Dusk was falling as the boy arrived with his herd at an abandoned church. The roof had fallen in long ago, and an enormous sycamore had grown on the spot where the sacristy had once stood.He decided to spen
Read more…The Brazilian author PAULO COELHO was born in 1947 in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Before dedicating his life completely to literature, he worked as theatre director and actor, lyricist and journalist.Coelho wrote song lyrics for many famous performer
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