Book Review: Manuscript Found in Accra by Paulo Coelho

Manuscript Found in Accra by Paulo Coelho
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The setting for this latest offering by Paulo Coelho is in Jerusalem. The date is July 14, 1099. On this date, the city was held by the Fatimids. Outside the city, the Crusaders are to make their final assault and enter the city. Most of the inhabitants of the city at this time profess one of the three Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Knowing that the Crusaders will soon attack, the people, vexed with uncertainty, are told to gather around a wise Greek simply known as the Copt. Some expected some sort of sermon; but instead the Copt wanted the people to ask questions that were troubling them. This dialogue would be set to writing or memorized for posterity. Certainly, many of them asked about what will happen the next day. But others asked some different questions about their life, love, dreams, disappointments, and fears. The book reminds me of "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran. I see this book as a continuation of his book "The Warrior of the Light". People who are expecting a novel when they pick this up, will be disappointed. But those who are willing to read through it, may benefit from some of the author's perspectives on some of life's most difficult problems.

NB According to "Al-Kamil fi'l Tarikh" by the famous historian Ali ibn al-Athir, the Crusaders slaughtered 70,000 Muslims, including women and children, who took refuge in the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

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