Super Short Summary

In Paulo Coelho’s The Fifth Mountain, a fictionalized retelling of the Prophet Elijah’s story, Elijah grapples with his prophetic vocation and societal expectations as he flees persecution by Jezebel. Guided by visions and angels, he finds refuge in Akbar, where he performs miracles and helps rebuild the community after its destruction by the Assyrians. Eventually, Elijah returns to Israel to restore faith and challenge Jezebel’s reign. The book explores themes such as political refugeeism, existential anxiety, alienation, and a crisis of faith. The story contains references to war, persecution, death, and religious conflict.