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The Spy: A novel Paperback – Large Print, November 22, 2016

by Paulo Coelho (Author)

3.7 4,136 ratings

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In his new novel, Paulo Coelho, bestselling author of The Alchemist and Adultery, brings to life one of history's most enigmatic women: Mata Hari.

HER ONLY CRIME WAS TO BE AN INDEPENDENT WOMAN

When Mata Hari arrived in Paris she was penniless. Within months she was the most celebrated woman in the city.

As a dancer, she shocked and delighted audiences; as a courtesan, she bewitched the era’s richest and most powerful men.

But as paranoia consumed a country at war, Mata Hari’s lifestyle brought her under suspicion. In 1917, she was arrested in her hotel room on the Champs Elysees, and accused of espionage.

Told in Mata Hari’s voice through her final letter, The Spy is the unforgettable story of a woman who dared to defy convention and who paid the ultimate price.

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Praise for Paulo Coelho and The Spy

“[The Spy is a] masterful new novel.” --Bookpage

“Coelho, whose books have sold more than 200 million copies worldwide, has taken the Mata Hara story and fashioned it into a short dynamo of a novel.” --Los Angeles Times

“A striking novel. . . . By the end, readers will believe they’ve read [Mata Hari’s] actual letters.” --Publisher’s Weekly

“Coelho has created a portrait of an anachronistic woman, who was destroyed by her times and became a legend.” --Paste Magazine

“A novelist who writes in a universal language.” --The New York Times

“Spiritualists and wanderlusts will eagerly devour . . . [Coelho’s] search for all things meaningful.” --The Washington Post

About the Author

PAULO COELHO’S life remains the primary source of inspiration for his books. He has flirted with death, escaped madness, dallied with drugs, withstood torture, experimented with magic and alchemy, studied philosophy and religion, read voraciously, lost and recovered his faith, and experienced the pain and pleasure of love. In searching for his own place in the world, he has discovered answers for the challenges that everyone faces. He believes that, within ourselves, we have the necessary strength to find our own destiny. His most recent novel Adultery was a worldwide bestseller. His 1988 novel The Alchemist has sold more than 65 million copies and has been cited as an inspiration by people as diverse as Malala Yousafzai and Pharrell Williams. Paulo Coelho has sold more than 200 million books worldwide. His work is published in 81 languages, and he is the most translated living author in the world.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Part I

Dear Mr. Clunet,

I do not know what will happen at the end of this week. I have always been an optimistic woman, but time has left me bitter, alone, and sad.

If things turn out as I hope, you will never receive this letter. I’ll have been pardoned. After all, I spent my life cultivating influential friends. I will hold on to the letter so that, one day, my only daughter might read it to find out who her mother was.

But if I am wrong, I have little hope that these pages, which have consumed my last week of life on Earth, will be kept. I have always been a realistic woman and I know that, once a case is settled, a lawyer will move on to the next one without a backward glance.

I can imagine what will happen after. You will be a very busy man, having gained notoriety defending a war criminal. You will have many people knocking at your door, begging for your services, for, even defeated, you attracted huge publicity. You will meet journalists interested to hear your version of events, you will dine in the city’s most expensive restaurants, and you will be looked upon with respect and envy by your peers. You will know there was never any concrete evidence against me—only documents that had been tampered with—but you will never publicly admit that you allowed an innocent woman to die.

Innocent? Perhaps that is not the right word. I was never innocent, not since I first set foot in this city I love so dearly. I thought I could manipulate those who wanted state secrets. I thought the Germans, French, English, Spanish would never be able to resist me—and yet, in the end, I was the one manipulated. The crimes I did commit, I escaped, the greatest of which was being an emancipated and independent woman in a world ruled by men. I was convicted of espionage even though the only thing concrete I traded was the gossip from high-society salons.

Yes, I turned this gossip into “secrets,” because I wanted money and power. But all those who accuse me now know I never revealed anything new.

It’s a shame no one will know this. These envelopes will inevitably find their way to a dusty file cabinet, full of documents from other proceedings. Perhaps they will leave when your successor, or your successor’s successor, decides to make room and throw out old cases.

By that time, my name will have been long forgotten. But I am not writing to be remembered. I am attempting to understand things myself. Why? How is it that a woman who for so many years got everything she wanted can be condemned to death for so little?

At this moment, I look back at my life and realize that memory is a river, one that always runs backward.

Memories are full of caprice, where images of things we’ve experienced are still capable of suffocating us through one small detail or insignificant sound. The smell of baking bread wafts up to my cell and reminds me of the days I walked freely in the cafés. This tears me apart more than my fear of death or the solitude in which I now find myself.

Memories bring with them a devil called melancholy—oh, cruel demon that I cannot escape. Hearing a prisoner singing, receiving a small handful of letters from admirers who were never among those who brought me roses and jasmine flowers, picturing a scene from some city I didn’t appreciate at the time. Now it’s all I have left of this or that country I visited.

The memories always win, and with them comes a demon that is even more terrifying than melancholy: remorse. It’s my only companion in this cell, except when the sisters decide to come and chat. They do not speak about God, or condemn me for what society calls my “sins of the flesh.” Generally, they say one or two words, and the memories spout from my mouth, as if I wanted to go back in time, plunging into this river that runs backward.

One of them asked me:

“If God gave you a second chance, would you do anything differently?”

I said yes, but really, I do not know. All I know is that my current heart is a ghost town, one populated by passions, enthusiasm, loneliness, shame, pride, betrayal, and sadness. I cannot disentangle myself from any of it, even when I feel sorry for myself and weep in silence.

I am a woman who was born at the wrong time and nothing can be done to fix this. I don’t know if the future will remember me, but if it does, may it never see me as a victim, but as someone who moved forward with courage, fearlessly paying the price she had to pay.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House Large Print; Large type / Large print edition (November 22, 2016)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1524755591
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1524755591
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.7 x 7.8 inches

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3.7 4,136 ratings

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Paulo Coelho
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Paulo Coelho is the author of "The Alchemist", he was born in 1947 in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Being the author of 30 books that have sold over 320 million copies in 170 countries, he has become one of the most widely read authors in the world today. Paulo Coelho has been a United Nations Messenger of Peace since 2007 and this has allowed him to continue to promote intercultural dialogue and to focus on the needs of children. He is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters and the recipient of over 115 awards and honours, including the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the Grinzane Cavour Book Award and the Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur, to name a few.
Other titles include “The Pilgrimage”, “Brida”, "The Supreme Gift", “The Valkyries”, “By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept”, “Maktub”, “The Fifth Mountain”, “Manual of the Warrior of Light”, “Veronika Decides to Die”, “The Devil and Miss Prym”, “Stories for Parents, Children and Grandchildren”, “Eleven Minutes”, “The Zahir”, “Like the Flowing River”, “The Witch of Portobello”, “The Winner Stands Alone”, “Aleph”, “Manuscript Found in Accra”, “Adultery”, “The Spy”, “Hippie”. Also “Journey” guided journal.
https://paulocoelhoblog.com/
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3.7 out of 5

4,136 global ratings

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Elaine B. Street

Coelho’s Risk Has Paid Off

Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2016

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Coelho’s Risk Has Paid Off

Dearest Reader,

If you are an avid Paulo Coelho fan, or a first time reader, I can truthfully say without question that THE SPY is definitely one of Coelho’s greatest endeavors of love.

Coelho never ceases to amaze me with each book. It is apparent that Coelho gets bored with the “usual” style in which most writers allow themselves to get trapped. Therefore, he risks as he takes on unique challenges, and new styles of presentation. THE SPY is his latest creation. Within this masterly constructed text, we feel not only Coelho’s need for change, but also Mata Hari’s desire for a new adventure.

Over the last two decades, Europe has been releasing many previously banned files concerning WW I. Coelho had been intrigued with Mata Hari since his early twenties. Consequently, as documents/letters, about her/by her, were released, he clamored to get his hands on them and deeply ingest them. It was evident that this magnificent lady’s real life needed to be told. Undoubtedly, I thank Mr. Coelho for daring to tackle this subject.

“Mata Hari was one of our first feminists,” Coelho relates in a release,“defying expectations of that time and choosing instead an independent, unconventional life. There are lessons we can draw from her life today, where accusations by the powerful still cost the innocent their lives.”

The first review I read about the book stated that it contained letters from people in Mata Hari’s life and letters from herself. I thought, “Oh no. I hope that the book is not filled with ‘copied’ word by word letters that need to be read to continue the story.” I am so happy to report that Coelho has not let his readers down. The book reads like smooth, delightfully tasting butter. Many reviewers have written that it feels as if Coelho has “channelled” Mata Hari. I concur with this as I guarantee that this heart filled character will sit with you as she tells you her story.

THE SPY is a page turner. I read it in an hour and fifteen minutes -- including the time I took to ponder the superb observations about life and the human condition that Coelho, one of the greatest masters of our time, brings to light.

Do not miss this opportunity to not only purchase this for yourself but also for all of the independent women and men in your life. It truly is one of Paulo Coelho’s grandest works.

RHSTheatre

26 people found this helpful

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R. W. Clinger

Textbook or fiction?

Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2016

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Reads like a textbook. Although it's interesting, and based on fact, I didn't feel any emotion whatsoever during the read or for its characters.. Wished the read had more dialogue to devise strong emotions regarding the characters. I bought the book to read a tale historical fiction. Truth told, I enjoyed the historical facts behind the tale, but not the characters, all of which seemed unemotional. I didn't long to turn the pages, although I tried to.

2 people found this helpful

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Bruce

Interesting Way of Telling the Story

Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2021

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This is a short book. It didn't take me all that long to read it. It is the story of Mata Hair, told in an interesting way, first from her view point and then via another person's perspective, and finally from letters. I thought it was a pretty creative approach. I didn't know much about Mata Hair before I read this book. Now I believe I have a reasonable view of the kind of person she was. She must have had some class, although she was a little before her time. She obviously would never have been executed 10 or 20 years later, let alone today. But I enjoyed it. It was worth the time spent on it.

10 people found this helpful

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Sharon G. Frizzell

The Spy Who Wasn't

Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2019

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I've heard about Mata Hari all my life. Who isn't familiar with the exotic image of the female spy? Actually, not too many are familiar with the story behind the myth. This was an enjoyable read, and a good lesson in the history. Beyond that I loved the way that Coelho was able to express the intelligence and the emotions of this fascinating woman from a woman's point of view.

13 people found this helpful

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Deborah E. Basel

I’m not sure what the point was - better to have embellished

Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2017

Verified Purchase

Interesting, but shallow. A very fast read (large type, double spaced). I’m not sure what the point was - better to have embellished, added depth and called it historical fiction because all that was here is available for free on Wikipedia

3 people found this helpful

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monserrat lopez

this one was not one I enjoyed. The narrative was good as usual

Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2017

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I have read all of Coehlos books and I anxiously wait for his new books. However, this one was not one I enjoyed. The narrative was good as usual, but the substance that I expect in his books was just not there. It's too shallow, too linear. I bought both English and Spanish version. I am going to read it in spanish now see if my opinion changes.

4 people found this helpful

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Stephen Spencer

A Woman scapegoat for Men

Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2017

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I would like to think that our society, our world has changed since Mata Hari's persecution and death but sadly I believe this still happens on a regular basis even today. Men of power blaming and using women in their lives to escape truth, a woman seeking love, freedom, independence is a threat. To use a commonly tweeted term - 'Sad'. Well written, worth the time...

4 people found this helpful

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Donna S. Meredith

A new look at an intriguing woman

Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2016

Verified Purchase

I had no idea Mata Hari might have been falsely accused, as this book posits. This was an interesting look at the life of a woman determined to make her own rules. Society punished her for her independence. I especially found the overlapping historical figures in the Alfred Dreyfus affair (discovered in a great book, An Officer and a Spy, by Robert Harris) interesting. Coehlo's switching to the point of view of Hari's defense lawyer for the second half of the book was also an interesting choice.

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Cliente Amazon

Muy bueno

Reviewed in Spain on May 20, 2020

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Es un gran escritor que decir de el es un auténtico genio de la literatura me ha encantado esta muy bien

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KK

Greed and fear

Reviewed in France on February 10, 2019

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As history is about to repeat itself again this book ponders a perfectly timed question of ethics of sacrificing an innocent person for diversion and satisfaction of public opinion. The story presents the views of Mata Hari and her defending lawyer on the circumstances of and reasons behind her execution. Coelho well managed to depict the pre first world war atmosphere, the eternal fear and envy of bold and fearless women and dangers of a tall poppy syndrome. Sad and awakening, thought provoking and mesmerizing story to read.

Jayanth joseph

The Mata Hari story

Reviewed in India on August 19, 2017

Verified Purchase

First of all I am very satisfied with the quality of the of the book the print , the binding etc .My second Paulo Coelho book after the Alchemist . Although I am a guy who loves reading long books . This is a very short one and I finished it in 3-4 days . The story is very gripping eventhough I already am aware of Mata Hari's story . The narration style was brilliant when her initial struggles are potrayed and in the end I felt really sad for the fate of a woman who just wanted to be independent .I would highly recommend the reader to buy this book. The English is also simple enough . A story of struggle , success , love and despair

3 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Disappointing

Reviewed in Italy on August 26, 2017

Verified Purchase

I didn't know much about Mata Hari before reading this book and I don't know much more after it. It actually made me dislike her a lot and found it terribly boring, as it would only skim the surface of the events and the characters. She does not come across as a strong and intelligent woman, but instead very superficial

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Kindle Customer

Brilliant

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 24, 2017

Verified Purchase

Though reviewing books based on historical facts/reality is a bit of a hard thing to do,I found this rather interesting. I had first heard about Mata Hari, the Dutch dancer who took France by storm a while back but didn't make much of her life and times. Coelho does some justice to her story more so.

Though it was a short book, her voice shone through. Her pleas of innocence still crying from the great beyond. Mata Hari simply existed in a wrong time. She was unconventional for her time.

I loved reading this book but it felt a bit rushed. All in all a good read.

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