At 82 years old, Isabel Allende stands as one of the most celebrated Spanish-language authors worldwide. Her books have been translated into over 40 languages, with global sales exceeding 80 million copies.
Her forthcoming novel, "My Name Is Emilia del Valle," set to be released on May 6, explores a dark chapter in Chilean history — the 1891 civil war. Consistent with much of Allende’s work, it centers on women facing adversity and their resilience. The novel’s themes resonate with Allende’s own life story. Born and raised in Chile, she was 31 when the 1973 military coup toppled the democratically elected president, Salvador Allende, her father’s cousin. Forced to flee with her two young children, she settled in Venezuela, where she penned "The House of the Spirits," inspired by a letter to her dying grandfather. That book became a bestseller and remains among her most renowned works.
In the late 1980s, Allende relocated to the United States, where she has continued her prolific writing career. Despite this, she has never ceased reflecting on her past — her homeland, heritage, and the personal loss of her daughter. Conversations with her reveal a profound connection to these memories.
Regarding the protagonist in her new novel, Emilia, who lacks a relationship with her biological father and seeks him out, Allende shared parallels from her own life. She recounted how her mother never spoke of her father, destroyed all photos featuring him, and only briefly described him as "a very intelligent man." There was never an explanation for his absence. When her brothers sought contact during their teenage years, they were met with disappointment as he showed no interest in them. Allende herself never pursued a relationship. Years later, while working as a journalist, she was summoned to identify a deceased man found on the street. She could not recognize him, having never seen his image — that man was her father.
When reflecting on the experience, Allende admitted that while seeing a corpse for the first time was harrowing, she felt no emotional connection, compassion, or longing toward the body.
