"Once upon a time, there was a prostitute called Maria. Wait a minute. "Once upon a time" is how all the best children's stories begin, and "prostitute" is a word for adults. How can I start a book with this apparent contradiction? But since, at every moment of our lives, we all have one foot in a fairy tale and the other in the abyss, let's keep that beginning."

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Source: Paulo Coelho (2014). “Adultery: A novel”, p.182, Vintage

About the author

Paulo Coelho

Writer

Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian author best known for 'The Alchemist', which explores themes of destiny, love, and self-discovery.

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