Book description
The Winner Stands Alone is the enthralling new novel by the
incomparable Paulo Coelho.
The story is set during the Cannes International Film Festival and the
entire action plays out over 24 hours. Igor is a wealthy Russian
businessman. His wife Ewa left him two years ago and Igor has never
really come to terms with their break up, especially as Ewa is now
remarried to a famous fashion designer, Hamid Hussein. Igor is insanely
jealous and when Ewa left him he told her that he would destroy 'whole
worlds' in order to get her back, and he intends to keep his promise…
Igor has followed Ewa and her new husband to Cannes and his plan is to
cause as much violence and destruction as possible until Ewa realises
how much he loves her and comes back to him. Ewa loved Igor but she was
absolutely terrified of him. She knows that Igor has killed people in
the past when he was a soldier, but she also knows a dark secret - that
he once cold bloodedly murdered a beggar who was bothering them in a
restaurant. Igor is clearly unhinged and he will stop at nothing to
regain her love and so he goes on a ruthless killing spree until he
tracks down Ewa…
The star-studded film festival acts as a backdrop to Igor's maniacal
murdering spree and we are ntroduced to various characters along the
way, all of whom are desperately trying to get their big break in the
shallow world of show business; Gabriela a young and naive actress who
is being exploited by her agent and Jasmine a troubled young Rwandan
refugee working as a model.
The Winner Stands Alone is a gripping, fast-paced thriller, and Coelho
cleverly weaves in elements of social satire, poking fun at our
celebrity and money obsessed culture. '…this scintillating parable
about shallowness, greed and celebrity worship from international
bestseller Coelho (The Alchemist) unsparingly examines the Superclass,
the elite's elite…Coelho's trademark mysticism and spiritual messages
provide an extra boost to the thriller plot.'
Publisher's Weekly
Praise for Paulo Coelho:
'An exceptional writer.' USA Today
'His books have had a life-enhancing impact on millions of people.' Times
'One of the few to deserve the term “Publishing Phenomenon”.'
Independent on Sunday
'Coelho's writing is beautifully poetic but his message is what
counts…he gives me hope and puts a smile on my face.' Daily Express
'The Alchemist is a beautiful book about magic, dreams and the
treasures we seek elsewhere and then find on our doorstep.' Madonna
'It's like music, really, the way he writes, it's so beautiful. It's a
gift that I envy above all others.' Julia Roberts Paulo Coelho was
born in Rio de Janeiro in 1947. He has become one of the most widely
read and loved authors in the world. Especially renowned for The
Alchemist and Eleven Minutes, he has sold more than 85 million books
worldwide and his work has been translated into 63 languages. The
recipient of numerous prestigious international awards, amongst them the
Crystal Award by the World Economic Forum and France's Legion d'Honneur,
Paulo Coelho was inducted into the Brazilian Academy of Letters in 2002.
He writes a weekly column syndicated throughout the world. Paulo's blog
is at www. paulocoelhoblog. com.
