Who is the author of the internationally acclaimed novel "The Alchemist"?

Introduction / Context:
"The Alchemist" is one of the most widely read inspirational novels in the world. It tells the story of a shepherd named Santiago who follows his dreams in search of a personal treasure, combining philosophy, spirituality, and adventure. General knowledge examinations often include questions about this book because it crosses cultural boundaries and appears frequently in reading lists. The question checks whether you can correctly identify Paulo Coelho as the author of this famous work.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The title mentioned is "The Alchemist". • It is a globally popular novel with themes of destiny and personal legend. • Four options list different writers, including one correct author and several distractors. • Only one option matches the actual writer of the book. • The question does not ask about plot details, only about authorship.

Concept / Approach:
"The Alchemist" is closely associated with Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho. It was originally written in Portuguese and later translated into many languages. To solve the question, you should recall that the book is not a detective novel or Gothic horror story, so authors like Agatha Christie and Mary Shelley can be eliminated. Recognizing the distinctive philosophical and parable like style of Paulo Coelho helps you match the title with the correct author.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Remember that "The Alchemist" follows the journey of a shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from Spain to Egypt in search of treasure. 2. Associate this narrative with Paulo Coelho, whose name appears on virtually every edition and translation of the book. 3. Examine option b, Paulo Coelho, and identify it as the correct match. 4. Evaluate option a, Agatha Christie, best known for detective fiction such as "Murder on the Orient Express" and "And Then There Were None". 5. Evaluate option c, Mary Shelley, famous for writing "Frankenstein" and contributing to early science fiction and horror. 6. Evaluate option d, None of these, which can be rejected since a clearly correct author, Paulo Coelho, is present. 7. Confirm that Paulo Coelho is the only answer consistent with the known facts about "The Alchemist".

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can recall book covers, library catalogues, or online listings for "The Alchemist". In all standard references, Paulo Coelho is credited as the author. His other works, such as "Brida", "Veronika Decides to Die", and "The Pilgrimage", share similar themes of inner search and spiritual growth. Neither Agatha Christie nor Mary Shelley wrote allegorical spiritual novels like "The Alchemist"; their bibliographies are firmly rooted in detective fiction and Gothic literature respectively. This consistency across different sources confirms that Paulo Coelho is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• Agatha Christie specialized in crime and mystery novels featuring detectives like Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, not in inspirational spiritual tales. • Mary Shelley is primarily associated with "Frankenstein" and a few other Gothic works, completely different in style and theme from "The Alchemist". • None of these is incorrect because one of the options, Paulo Coelho, is definitely the right author.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is misreading the option for Paulo Coelho due to spelling variations of his surname. Some exam questions deliberately introduce minor spelling errors to confuse test takers. Another pitfall is to rush and select "None of these" without carefully scanning the list of authors. Additionally, candidates who know that Agatha Christie is extremely famous sometimes pick her name for any popular title, even when the genre does not match. To avoid these errors, always cross check the type of literature and make sure that the style of the book matches the known style of the author chosen.

Final Answer:
The internationally acclaimed novel "The Alchemist" was written by Paulo Coelho.