A review of The Alchemist: A Graphic Novel

The classic tale of Santiago, an ­Anda­lusian shepherd who journeys to Egypt to find the "Soul of the World," has been adapted as a graphic novel for the first time. Written like a fable, The Alchemist is built around the conversations Santiago has with those he meets on his journey. Stripped of Coelho's descriptions, the graphic novel relies heavily on finely rendered portraiture to convey the nuances of these dialogues, backed by the epic landscapes of Santiago's travels. The result is a beautiful book that must be read with careful attention in order to match the emotional impact of the original.