By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept
 | |
| Author | Paulo Coelho |
|---|---|
| Original title | Na margem do rio Piedra eu sentei e chorei |
| Country | Brazil |
| Language | Portuguese |
| Genre | Novel |
Publication date | 1994 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover, Paperback) |
| Pages | 192 pp (paperback edition) |
| ISBN | 0-06-097726-4 |
| OCLC | 44531447 |
By the River Piedra I sat Down and Wept (Portuguese: Na margem do rio Piedra eu sentei e chorei) is one of Paulo Coelho's most prominent titles.[1] This is the first part in Coelho's trilogy "On the Seventh Day".[2] The other two parts are Veronika Decides to Die and The Devil and Miss Prym. This trilogy is a week in the life of someone ordinary to whom something extraordinary happens.
The novel takes its title from the incipit of the famous Psalm 137: By the Rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion (KJV).
Plot summary
It is essentially a story about love. It also includes elements of paganism; in particular it focuses on the female aspect of divinity.
The story focuses on Pilar, an independent young woman, who is frustrated with the grind of university life and looking for greater meaning. Pilar's life takes a turn when she meets up with a childhood sweetheart, who is now a spiritual teacher and a rumoured healer and miracle worker. They set off on a journey through the French Pyrenees as the journey unfolds.
References
- ↑ "By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept". Powell's Books.
- ↑ "On the Seventh Day". Santjordi Associados. Archived from the original on 2005-09-23.