Isabel Allende Books

A beautiful hardback edition of a magical realist classic and South American epic. As a girl, Clara del Valle can read fortunes, make objects move as if they had lives of their own, and predict the future. Following the mysterious death of her sister, Rosa the Beautiful, Clara is mute for nine years. When she breaks her silence, it is to announce that she will be married soon to the stern and volatile landowner Esteban Trueba. Set in an unnamed Latin American country over three generations, The House of the Spirits is a magnificent epic of a proud and passionate family, secret loves and violent revolution. 'A novel to be read for its brilliant craftsmanship and its narrative of inescapable power' El Pais 'Intensely moving. Both entertaining and deeply serious' Evening Standard VINTAGE QUARTERBOUND CLASSICS: Bound to be beautiful

An autobiography of the life and family of Chilean author, Isabel Allende.

Born a slave on the island of Saint-Domingue, Zarité -- known as Tété -- is the daughter of an African mother she never knew and one of the white sailors who brought her into bondage. Though her childhood is one of brutality and fear, Tété finds solace in the traditional rhythms of African drums and in the voodoo loas she discovers through her fellow slaves. When twenty-year-old Toulouse Valmorain arrives on the island in 1770, it’s with powdered wigs in his baggage and dreams of financial success in his mind. But running his father’s plantation, Saint-Lazare, is neither glamorous nor easy. It will be eight years before he brings home a bride -- but marriage, too, proves more difficult than he imagined. And Valmorain remains dependent on the services of his teenaged slave. Spanning four decades, Island Beneath the Sea is the moving story of the intertwined lives of Tété and Valmorain, and of one woman’s determination to find love amid loss, to offer humanity though her own has been battered, and to forge her own identity in the cruellest of circumstances. Translated from the Spanish by Margaret Sayers Peden.

In The Sum of Our Days, internationally acclaimed author Isabel Allende reconstructs the painful reality of her own life in the wake of the tragic death of her daughter, Paula. Narrated with warmth, humor, exceptional candor, and wisdom, this remarkable memoir is as exuberant and full of life as its creator. Allende bares her soul as she shares her thoughts on love, marriage, motherhood, spirituality and religion, infidelity, addiction, and memory—and recounts stories of the wildly eccentric, strong-minded, and eclectic tribe she gathers around her and lovingly embraces as a new kind of family.

Isabel Allende delves deep into the world she created in her previous book Eva Luna to bring her readers delightful tales of the strange joys and sadnesses of South America. Weaving stories of passion, sensitivity, love and death, she brings to life colourful characters against poor and barren landscapes.

Born in the back room of the mansion where her mother toils, and herself in service from an early age, the enchanting and ever-enchanted Eva Luna escapes oppression through story telling.

From the New York Times bestselling author comes a passionate meditation on womanhood. Isabel Allende begins by recalling her childhood, where she witnessed her mother, abandoned and voiceless, support three children. This experience ignited her fierce determination to fight for the life her mother couldn't have. As she matured in the late 1960s, Allende embraced the second wave of feminism, finding a sense of belonging among female journalists who boldly addressed women's issues. Throughout her life, she has witnessed the movement's achievements and navigated three passionate marriages, learning to grow alongside a partner, recognize when to step away, and embrace her sexuality. Allende reflects on what nourishes the souls of feminists and all women today: safety, value, peace, resources, connection, bodily autonomy, and love. Despite progress, she acknowledges that much work remains. Through her words, she hopes to inspire future generations, urging them to continue the fight for equality and empowerment, just as previous generations have done for them. This book serves as a beacon for daughters and granddaughters, encouraging them to carry on the essential work still ahead.

From international literary phenomenon Isabel Allende: an exquisite multi-generational love story that sweeps from WWII to present-day San Francisco

Allende tackles her homeland head-on in this staggering, epic romance Portrait in Sepia is both a magnificent historical novel set at the end of the nineteenth century in Chile and a marvellous family saga peopled by characters from Daughter of Fortune and The House of the Spirits, two of Allende's most celebrated novels. As a young girl, Aurora del Valle suffered a brutal trauma that has shaped her character and erased from her mind all recollection of the first five years of her life. Raised by her ambitious grandmother, the regal and commanding Paulina del Valle, she grows up in a privileged environment, free of the limitations that circumscribe the lives of women at that time, but tormented by terrible nightmares. When she finds herself alone at the end of an unhappy love affair, she decides to explore the mystery of her past, to discover what it was, exactly, all those years ago, that had such a devastating effect on her young life. Richly detailed, epic in scope, this engrossing story of the dark power of hidden secrets is intimate in its probing of human character, and thrilling in the way it illuminates the complexity of family ties.

This powerful novel weaves together the past and present, exploring the ripple effects of war and immigration on two children from different eras. In Vienna, 1938, six-year-old Samuel Adler loses everything when his father disappears during Kristallnacht. His mother secures a spot for him on the last Kindertransport train to the UK, where he boards alone with only a change of clothes and his violin. Fast forward to Arizona, 2019, where seven-year-old Anita Diaz, who is blind, and her mother flee danger in El Salvador, seeking refuge in the U.S. Their arrival coincides with a family separation policy, leaving Anita alone in a Nogales camp. She escapes into Azabahar, a magical world she created with her sister. Anita's case is assigned to social worker Selena Duran, who teams up with a promising lawyer from a top San Francisco firm. Together, they uncover a connection between Anita and another family member in the U.S.: Leticia Cordero, who works for eighty-six-year-old Samuel Adler. Spanning time and place, this narrative serves as a testament to parental sacrifices and a love letter to children who endure unimaginable dangers while continuing to dream.

Beautiful and headstrong, Irene Beltran works as a magazine journalist--a profession that belies her privileged upbringing and her engagement to an army captain. Her investigative partner is photographer Francisco Leal, the son of impoverished Spanish Marxist emigres. Together, they form an unlikely but inseparable team--and Francisco quickly falls in love with the fierce and loyal Irene. When an assignment leads them to a young girl whom locals believe to possess miraculous powers, they uncover an unspeakable crime perpetrated by an oppressive regime. Determined to reveal the truth in a nation overrun by terror and violence, each will risk everything to find justice--and, ultimately, to embrace the passion and fervor that binds them. Profoundly moving and ultimately uplifting, "Of Love and Shadows" is a tale of romance, bravery, and tragedy, set against the indelible backdrop of a country ruled with an iron fist--and peopled with those who dare to challenge it.

_______________THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING NOVEL FROM LITERARY LEGEND ISABEL ALLENDE_______________'Epic, beautifully crafted . . . Gripping from start to finish' DAILY TELEGRAPH'A moving exploration of both the pain and the freedom of being an outsider' NEW STATESMAN'A new novel by Isabel Allende is always a treat' DAILY MAIL_______________One extraordinary woman.One hundred years of history.One unforgettable story.Violeta comes into the world on a stormy day in 1920, the first daughter in a family of five boisterous sons. From the start, her life is marked by extraordinary events. The ripples of the Great War are still being felt, even as the Spanish flu arrives on the shores of her South American homeland almost at the moment of her birth. Told in the form of a letter to someone Violeta loves above all others, this is the story of a hundred-year life - of devastating heartbreak and passionate affairs, poverty and wealth, terrible loss and immense joy. Bearing witness to a century of history, it is a life shaped by the fight for women's rights, the rise and fall of tyrants and, ultimately, not one but two pandemics. Through the eyes of a woman whose unforgettable passion, determination and sense of humour will carry her through a lifetime of upheaval, Isabel Allende once more brings us an epic that is both fiercely inspiring and deeply emotional._______________

Orphaned at birth, Eliza Sommers is raised in the British colony of Valparaíso, Chile, by the well-meaning Miss Rose and her strict brother Jeremy. She falls in love with Joaquín Andieta, a lowly clerk, just as gold is discovered in northern California. In 1849, driven by dreams of wealth, Joaquín heads to San Francisco, and Eliza, pregnant with his child, decides to follow him. This sets off her perilous journey to the rough world of San Francisco, where the newly arrived inhabitants are consumed by gold fever. Among a society of single men and prostitutes, Eliza finds support from her friend, the Chinese doctor Tao Chien. California presents her with opportunities for freedom and independence, transforming her search for Joaquín into a quest for personal liberation. As Eliza's journey unfolds, she must ultimately determine who her true love is. This narrative offers a sweeping portrait of an era, rich in character, history, violence, and compassion. Eliza emerges as an adventurous and unconventional heroine, embodying the courage to reinvent herself and forge her own destiny in a new land. The story showcases Isabel Allende's remarkable storytelling ability and solidifies her status as a leading writer.

An epic tale of love and conquest, lyrically written and enchantingly told by a writer at the peak of her powers. A real historical figure, Ines Suarez came to Chile with the Conquistadors in 1540, helping to claim the territory for Spain and to found the first Spanish settlement in Santiago. In this remarkable novel, Isabel Allende -- one of the world's most spellbinding storytellers -- re-imagines Ines's life and that of the two men who become her lover and husband respectively. 'Ines of My Soul' evokes the conflict and drama of the Conquistadors' arrival in Chile, as well as helping restore the reputation of Ines, a powerful woman long neglected by history and a patriarchal society. It also finds Allende returning to territory beloved of her and her readers -- imaginative historical fiction, evocatively told -- and to the familiar landscape of her native country. The novel gives Ines the recognition and glory that are rightfully hers; but more than that it is an epic tale of love and conquest, lyrically written and enchantingly told by a writer at the peak of her powers.

Alexander Cold and his best friend, Nadia, the heroes of Allende's City Of the Beasts , are reunited in a new adventure. This time, Alexander's fearless grandmother and International Geographic are taking them to another remote niche of the world -- a forbidden kingdom tucked into the frosty peaks of the Himalayas. Their task: to locate its fabled Golden Dragon, a sacred statue and priceless oracle, before it is destroyed by the greed of an outsider. With the aid of a sage Buddhist monk, his young royal disciple, and a fierce tribe of Yeti warriors, and armed with the power of their totemic animal spirits, Alexander and Nadia fight to protect the holy rule of the Golden Dragon.

The author of 'The House of the Spirits' returns with a gritty yet transcendent tale of teenage addiction.

Isabel Allende evokes the magnificent landscapes of her country; a charming, idiosyncratic Chilean people with a violent history and an indomitable spirit, and the politics, religion, myth, and magic of her homeland that she carries with her even today. The book circles around two life-changing moments. The assassination of her uncle Salvador Allende Gossens on September 11, 1973, sent her into exile and transformed her into a literary writer. And the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, on her adopted homeland, the United States, brought forth an overdue acknowledgment that Allende had indeed left home. My Invented Country, mimicking the workings of memory itself, ranges back and forth across that distance between past and present lives. It speaks compellingly to immigrants and to all of us who try to retain a coherent inner life in a world full of contradictions.

An epic wartime romance which sees a headstrong young woman face hardship, danger and dilemmas as the forces of history sweep her across continents, while two men compete to claim her heart.

From internationally bestselling author Isabel Allende comes an exquisitely crafted love story and multigenerational epic that sweeps from present-day San Francisco to Poland and the United States during WWII. In 1939, as Poland falls under the shadow of the Nazis and the world goes to war, young Alma Belasco's parents send her away to live in safety with an aunt and uncle in their opulent mansion in San Francisco. There she meets Ichimei Fukuda, the son of the family's Japanese gardener, and between them a tender love blossoms. Following Pearl Harbor, the two are cruelly pulled apart when Ichimei and his family - like thousands of Japanese Americans - are declared enemies by the US government and relocated to internment camps. Throughout their lifetimes, Alma and Ichimei reunite again and again, but theirs is a love they are forever forced to hide from the world. Decades later, Alma is nearing the end of her long and eventful life. Irina Bazili, a care worker struggling to come to terms with her own troubled past, meets the older woman and her grandson, Seth, at Lark House nursing home. As Irina and Seth forge a friendship, they become intrigued by a series of mysterious gifts and letters sent to Alma, and learn about Ichimei and this extraordinary secret passion that has endured for nearly seventy years.

Fifteen-year-old Alexander Cold has the chance to take the trip of a lifetime. Parting from his family and ill mother, Alexander joins his fearless grandmother, a magazine reporter for International Geographic, on an expedition to the dangerous, remote world of the Amazon. Their mission, along with the others on their team -- including a celebrated anthropologist, a local guide and his young daughter Nadia, and a doctor -- is to document the legendary Yeti of the Amazon known as the Beast. Under the dense canopy of the jungle, Alexander is amazed to discover much more than he could have imagined about the hidden worlds of the rain forest. Drawing on the strength of the jaguar, the totemic animal Alexander finds within himself, and the eagle, Nadia's spirit guide, both young people are led by the invisible People of the Mist on a thrilling and unforgettable journey to the ultimate discovery.... In a stunning novel of high adventure, internationally celebrated novelist Isabel Allende leads readers through the intricacies of two personal quests, and on an epic voyage -- teeming with magical realism -- into the wonder-filled heart of the Amazon.

In the first children's book written by critically acclaimed, New York Times-bestselling superstar Isabel Allende, Perla, the mighty dog, teaches her human brother, Nico Rico, how to use his superpowers to stand up to a bully. Perla is a mighty dog who has two superpowers—making people love her, and roaring like a lion. When she finds out her human brother, Nico Rico, is being bullied at school, she knows she has to step in! But what will Perla do? In a charming and poignant story about the bond between child and pet, Isabel Allende makes her children's literary debut.

Bestselling author Isabel Allende's first adult novel since Portrait in Sepia' - beautiful, disturbing and atmospheric.

From one of the world's best loved storytellers, the trilogy that began with City of the Beasts comes to a thrilling climax. Alexander Cold knows all too well his grandmother Kate is never far from an adventure. When National Geographic commissions her to write an article about the first elephant-led safaris in Africa, they head - with Nadia Santos and the magazine's photography crew - to the blazing, red plains of Kenya. Days into the tour, a Catholic missionary approaches the camp in search of his companions who have mysteriously disappeared. Kate, Alexander, Nadia, and their team, agreeing to aid the rescue, enlists the help of a local pilot to lead them to the swampy forests of Ngoube. There they discover a clan of Pygmies who unveil a harsh and surprising world of corruption, slavery, and poaching. Alexander and Nadia, entrusting the magical strengths of Jaguar and Eagle, their totemic animal spirits, launch a spectacular and precarious struggle to restore freedom and return leadership to its rightful hands. The final instalment of Isabel Allende's celebrated trilogy soars with radiant settings, spirits, beings - and the transformation of an extraordinary friendship.

Internationally bestselling author of The Japanese Lover Isabel Allende returns with a beautifully crafted, multi-generational novel of struggle, endurance and friendship against the odds

Under the aegis of the Goddess of Love, Isabel Allende uses her storytelling skills brilliantly in Aphrodite to evoke the delights of food and sex. After considerable research and study, she has become an authority on aphrodisiacs, which include everything from food and drink to stories and, of course, love. Readers will find here recipes from Allende's mother, poems, stories from ancient and foreign literatures, paintings, personal anecdotes, fascinating tidbits on the sensual art of foodand its effects on amorous performance, tips on how to attract your mate and revive flagging virility, passages on the effect of smell on libido, a history of alcoholic beverages, and much more. An ode to sensuality that is an irresistible blend of memory, imagination and the senses, Aphrodite is familiar territory for readers who know her fiction.

Een alternatief therapeute en haar dochter krijgen te maken met enkele samenhangende moorden in San Francisco.

**Get ready to meet Perla - the feisty, magical rescue dog who will steal your heart!**From #1 international bestselling author Isabel Allende and award winning illustrator Sandy Rodriguez comes the first in a series of picture books about a dog called Perla and the family who love her! Meet Perla. She's a small dog with a BIG personality and a very impressive roar. When she's adopted by the Ricos, a Mexican-American family in search of a guard dog, Perla quickly makes friends with seven-year old Nico Rico - who needs someone to help him deal with the school bullies. Soon, Perla has changed the lives of everyone in the Rico family ... and found a place in their hearts forever.

Eine inspirierende Geschichte über den kleinen Hund Perla, der mit ihrem großen Herzen und zwei Superkräften, die Liebe zu gewinnen und wie ein Löwe zu brüllen, ihrem Freund Nico hilft, sein Selbstvertrauen zurückzugewinnen. Charmant und farbenfroh illustriert von Sandy Rodriguez.

Trilogía de aventuras, realismo mágico y naturaleza. Alexander Cold, un chico estadounidense de quince años, su abuela Kate, reportera de viajes, y Nadia Santos, una compañera de aventuras muy especial.

Sinopsis: Perla es una súper perrita que tiene dos súper poderes: hacer que todos la quieran y rugir como un león.Cuando descubre que su hermano humano, Nico Rico, está siendo acosado en la escuela, ¡sabe que tiene que intervenir!Pero ¿qué hará Perla?Enuna conmovedora historia sobre la amistad entre un niño y su mascota, Isabel Allende hace su debut literario infantil.

La pluma mágica de Allende nos invita a conocer, en esta preciosa trilogía de aventuras, realismo mágico y naturaleza, a Alexander Cold, un muchacho americano de quince años; a su abuela Kate, una reportera de viajes; y a Nadia Santos, una compañera de aventuras muy especial. En La Ciudad de las Bestias partirán en busca de una bestia gigantesca que se halla en la vasta selva del Amazonas, donde conocerán a un chamán indígena que les mostrará las maravillas de su tierra. En El Reino del Dragón de Oro conocerán las enseñanzas budistas cuando visiten el Himalaya, donde se esconde la estatua del dragón de Oro, un objeto magnífico de piedras preciosas cuyo descubrimiento puede provocar daños irreparables en estas tierras. En El Bosque de los Pigmeos viajarán al corazón de África para ayudar a liberar de la esclavitud a los pigmeos y favorecer la paz entre las tribus. Un mundo sorprendente del que nunca querrás salir.

Elle s'appelle Eva, qui signifie vie, car sa mère souhaitait qu'elle en profite pleinement. Eva Luna est née d'un Indien des Fils de la Lune, après une rencontre dramatique. Enfant rebelle et fascinée, écoutant des feuilletons radiophoniques, elle possède le talent d'inventer des histoires incroyables, drôles et tragiques, ce qui lui permettra de s'élever au-dessus de la misère et de l'anonymat. Son parcours croise celui de personnages hauts en couleur : sa marraine, qui donne naissance à un monstre à deux têtes ; sa grand-mère Elvira, sauvée d'une inondation dans son cercueil ; la Madame, une maquerelle influente, et Mimi, un travesti devenu star de la télévision. Elle rencontre aussi Huberto Naranjo, un enfant des rues, et des membres de sa famille, aubergistes dans un village montagnard. D'autres figures marquantes incluent un dictateur, un tortionnaire, un commerçant au cœur tendre, sa femme Zulema, un journaliste épicurien, et un ministre dans une situation absurde. Au milieu de ces rencontres, Eva découvre Rolf, l'homme de sa vie, lui rappelant que certaines histoires peuvent bien se terminer.

Warum erwarb sich Dulce Rosa den unverdienten Ruhm der Schönheit? Die Titelerzählung »Eine Rache« berichtet von dieser Frau, die als junges Mädchen die Ermordung ihres Vaters und die eigene Vergewaltigung erleben mußte. Dulce Rosa ist gezeichnet – sie weist alle Bewerber ab, »denn ihre Aufgabe in dieser Welt war die Rache«. Als der Augenblick da ist, der Täter und Opfer zusammenbringt, drehen sich Pläne, Leidenschaft und Erinnerung wie in einem Wirbel zu einem unentrinnbaren Sog. Fünf Erzählungen wurden aus der Sammlung »Geschichten der Eva Luna« ausgewählt: »Ein diskretes Wunder«, »Verdorbenes Kind«, »Der verschwundene Palast«, »Walimai« und »Eine Rache«. Sie sind in Atmosphäre, Szenerie und Thematik so unterschiedlich wie das erzählerische Temperament ihrer Erzählerin. Doch fast immer gehen sie aus von einem schicksalhaften Augenblick, der das Leben eines Menschen von Grund auf ändert. Dieser Augenblick ist so bestimmend, daß es kein Entrinnen gibt, auch wenn Jahre oder gar Jahrzehnte vergangen sind.

Inés Suárez nasce all'inizio del Cinquecento in Spagna, figlia di un artigiano di Plasencia. Dotata di un forte temperamento, sposa contro la volontà della famiglia Juan de Málaga, che la abbandona per cercare fortuna nel Nuovo Mondo. Determinata, Inés si imbarca per quelle terre lontane con i soldi guadagnati ricamando e cucinando. Arrivata in Perù, scopre che il marito è morto in battaglia, ma trova un nuovo amore in Pedro de Valdivia, un hidalgo in cerca di avventure. Insieme affrontano i rischi della Conquista, attraversano il deserto di Atacama, combattono contro indigeni e fondano la città di Santiago. Il romanzo narra le avventure, realmente accadute ma poco note, dell'eroina della Conquista spagnola. Attraverso gli occhi di una Inés ormai anziana, l'autrice ripercorre la vita della giovane protagonista, che affronta incredibili viaggi, eroiche battaglie, amori travolgenti e lotte per il potere con coraggio e passione indimenticabili.

Sono gli anni che seguono la morte della figlia Paula. Isabel Allende adotta la forma "diario" per fare la cronaca della famiglia, faticosamente riunita in California dal 1992 al 2006. I ricordi si intrecciano alle riflessioni sulla vita, sulla sua opera e sul mondo contemporaneo. Due leitmotiv danno coesione all'insieme: la relazione amorosa con il secondo marito Willie e l'ansia di costituire e difendere una grande tribù familiare. Con intelligenza e autoironia Isabel ci mostra le difficoltà di tenere insieme un clan variegatissimo e di dominarlo; in una sorta di messa a nudo delle proprie inclinazioni, ci dice che un'innata generosità può facilmente travalicare in esercizio di potere e controllo nelle altrui vite per modificarne il corso. Gli episodi teneri, burleschi si intrecciano a quelli tragicomici o drammatici e la narratrice esibisce una tolleranza imperturbabile per le passioni e un'intolleranza viscerale nei confronti dell'ingiustizia. Non mancano le acute riflessioni sull'incombere della terza età, sulle proprie debolezze, sulla fatica di sbagliare. Si esce dalla lettura con la sensazione di aver attraversato una grande galleria di ritratti familiari, di aver vissuto una cronaca di affetti che ci riguarda da vicino.

Ihre Mutter hat sie Eva genannt, damit sie Lust aufs Leben habe; und weil ihr Vater, ein Indio mit gelben Augen, zum Stamm der Söhne des Mondes gehörte, heißt sie Eva Luna. Ihr Lebensweg führt sie aus dem Haus des exzentrischen Ausländers Professor Jones in die Unter- und Halbwelt einer lateinamerikanischen Hauptstadt an der Karibikküste. Turbulente Ereignisse katapultieren das junge Mädchen in ein entlegenes Nest in tropischer Stille, wo sie Frieden, bald aber auch sinnliche Unruhe erlebt. Obwohl sie sich, neben der Liebe, eigentlich nur zum Geschichtenerzählen berufen fühlt, wird sie schließlich lebhaft hineingezogen mitten in die Sphäre politischer Gewalt. »Die drei Romane markieren Etappen meines Lebens. Das Geisterhaus war Bewältigung meiner Erinnerung. Von Liebe und Schatten nahm mir meinen Haß und meine Wut. Eva Luna ist ein fröhliches Buch.« Isabel Allende

Twintig kleurrijke verhalen van het Latijnsamerikaanse continent.

Drieëntwintig geschiedenissen over liefde en alledaags geweld in Latijns-Amerika.

Es ist Liebe auf den ersten Blick. Im strengbewachten Guggenheimmuseum in Bilbao feiern Elena und Pedro eines Nachts ein orgiastisches Fest. Aber wie sind sie hineingekommen? Ein Wunder? Magie? Sinnliche, unerhörte Geschichten erzählt hier Isabel Allende, Geschichten voller Liebe und Erotik, Leidenschaft und übermütigem Humor, Geschichten von starken und eigenwilligen Frauen - und von liebestrunkenen Männern, die nicht immer wissen, wie das Herz einer Frau zu gewinnen ist.

Although she claims to have been an outsider in her native land -- "I never fit in anywhere, not into my family, my social class, or the religion fate bestowed on me" -- Isabel Allende carries with her even today the mark of the politics, myth, and magic of her homeland, Chile. In My Invented Country she explores the role of memory and nostalgia in shaping her life, her books, and that most intimate connection to her place of origin.The military coup and violent death of her uncle, Salvador Allende Gossens, on September 11, 1973, sent her into exile and transformed her into a writer. The terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 on her newly adopted homeland, the U.S., brought fourth from Allende an overdue acknowledgment that she had indeed left home. My Invented Country speaks compellingly to all of us who try to retain a coherent inner life and a sense of humor in a world full of contradictions.

Sono gli anni che seguono la morte della figlia Paula. Isabel Allende adotta la forma "diario" per fare la cronaca della famiglia, faticosamente riunita in California dal 1992 al 2006. I ricordi si intrecciano alle riflessioni sulla vita, sulla sua opera e sul mondo contemporaneo. Due leitmotiv danno coesione all'insieme: la relazione amorosa con il secondo marito Willie e l'ansia di costituire e difendere una grande tribù familiare. Con intelligenza e autoironia Isabel ci mostra le difficoltà di tenere insieme un clan variegatissimo e di dominarlo; in una sorta di messa a nudo delle proprie inclinazioni, ci dice che un'innata generosità può facilmente travalicare in esercizio di potere e controllo nelle altrui vite per modificarne il corso. Gli episodi teneri, burleschi si intrecciano a quelli tragicomici o drammatici e la narratrice esibisce una tolleranza imperturbabile per le passioni e un'intolleranza viscerale nei confronti dell'ingiustizia. Non mancano le acute riflessioni sull'incombere della terza età, sulle proprie debolezze, sulla fatica di sbagliare. Si esce dalla lettura con la sensazione di aver attraversato una grande galleria di ritratti familiari, di aver vissuto una cronaca di affetti che ci riguarda da vicino.

Die schönsten Erzählungen der Erfolgsautorin Isabel Allende zum Welttag des Buches 2002 in einer gebundenen schönen Taschenbuchausgabe zu einem einmaligen Sonderpreis: Starke und eigenwillige Frauen, Liebe und Erotik, Leidenschaft und Gewalt, übermütiger Humor und das vitale Nebeneinander von Lebenslust und Schicksal prägen diese ausgewählten Geschichten, die in einem Südamerika spielen, das von den kalten Südzonen bis zum hitzigen Dschungel und den ölschwitzenden Küstenstädten der Karibik reicht. In diesen Erzählungen aus dem Band »Geschichten der Eva Luna« zeigt sich auf wunderbare Weise ein charakteristischer Wesenszug der Autorin: die Begeisterung für das Leben.

Nel 1992 Isabel Allende subì la perdita della figlia Paula, morta dopo un lungo periodo di coma nel quale era caduta in seguito ad un attacco acuto di porfiria. In seguito a tale evento, la scrittrice pubblicò "Paula", lungo racconto epistolare in cui ripercorreva le tappe della vita della figlia. "Paula" ottenne un grande successo e Isabel Allende ricevette una grande quantità di lettere dai suoi lettori, lettere di sostegno, di condivisione di esperienze. Alcune fra le più belle lettere ricevute, la scrittrice le ha raccolte in questo volume.

20 Jahre ist es her, daß Isabel Allende mit ihrem unvergleichlichen Bestseller Das Geisterhaus die deutschen Leserinnen und Leser begeisterte. In Fortunas Tochter und Porträt in Sepia erzählt die chilenische Autorin die nicht weniger turbulente Vorgeschichte der über den amerikanischen Kontinent verzweigten Familie del Valle.§§

»Erzähl mir eine Geschichte«, sage ich zu dir. »Was für eine möchtest du?« – »Erzähl mir eine Geschichte, die du noch niemandem erzählt hast.« Es sind Geschichten fürs Leben und aus dem Leben, die Isabel Allende hier erzählt, mit Leidenschaft, Erotik und Humor. Aber es ist weniger die grelle Liebe und Leidenschaft, vielmehr die stille, elementare Kraft, die dem Dasein außergewöhnlichen Sinn und Verlauf gibt. Ihre Geschichten spielen alle in einem Südamerika, das von den kalten Südzonen bis zum hitzigen Dschungel und den Küstenstädten der Karibik reicht. Eine Geschichtenerzählerin nennt sich Isabel Allende, die im Erfinden einer Geschichte dem Leben in seinen widersprüchlichsten und vitalsten Aspekten auf den Leib rückt, sich selbst und den Lesern zum besseren Verständnis.

Isabel Allende, die erfolgreichste Schriftstellerin Lateinamerikas, schöpft Inspiration aus ihrem turbulenten Leben. Geboren in Peru und aufgewachsen in Chile, erlebte sie den Militärputsch 1973 hautnah. Nach ihrer Flucht vor dem Pinochet-Regime schrieb sie ihren ersten Roman. In Gesprächen mit Martin Scholz reflektiert sie über Feminismus, Liebe im Alter und ihre kreative Muse.

"En lykkens datter" er en stor fortellende roman om den foreldreløse Eliza Sommers og adoptivfamilien hennes. Historien tar utgangspunkt i Valparaiso, Chile, rundt midten av forrige århundre. Eliza vokser opp hos en engelsk handelsfamilie og må lære å spille piano, kle seg pent og oppføre seg som hun ikke har noen indianske trekk. Familien er stor og sammensatt; alle bærer på fargerike historier; kjærligheten blomstrer - og avblomstrer - i dramatiske og humoristiske episoder. Første gang utgitt på norsk i 1999.

1770, Santo Domingo, ora Haiti. Tété ha nove anni quando il giovane francese Toulouse Valmorain la compra perché si occupi delle faccende di casa. Intorno, i campi di canna da zucchero, la calura sfibrante dell'isola, il lavoro degli schiavi. Tété impara presto com'è fatto quel mondo: la violenza dei padroni, l'ansia di libertà, i vincoli preziosi della solidarietà. Quando Valmorain si sposta nelle piantagioni della Louisiana, anche Tété deve seguirlo, ma ormai è cominciata la battaglia per la dignità, per il futuro, per l'affrancamento degli schiavi. È una battaglia lenta che si mescola al destarsi di amori e passioni, all'annodarsi di relazioni e alleanze, al muoversi febbrile dei personaggi più diversi – soldati e schiavi guerrieri, sacerdoti vudù e frati cattolici, matrone e cocottes, pirati e nobili decaduti, medici e oziosi bellimbusti. Contro il fondale animatissimo della Storia, Zarité Sedella, soprannominata Tété, spicca bella e coraggiosa, battagliera e consapevole, un'eroina modernissima che arriva da lontano a rammentarci la fede nella libertà e la dignità delle passioni.

Na pozadí príbehu veľkej lásky zobrazuje život v Chile po vojenskom prevrate. Román je dielom o večne živej láske, ktorá je schopná najťažších skúšok, plným lyrizmu, ale zároveň je obrazom hrôzy vyjadreným sugestívnym jazykom.