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‘In “The House of Spirits”, Allende constructed an allusional tale for the fate of modern Chile. Now she has repeated the trick for the foundation of the country. The result is perhaps her best book since that debut.' Independent
'Allende's version of events sees Ines Suarez as the puppeteer pulling the strings of the influential men she's involved with. She is quick-witted, militarily astute and has a deep understanding of "the enemy". Allende does not attempt to rewrite the past. Instead, she provides a colourful glimpse into the life of a daring Spanish woman whose vital role has been forgotten by history.' Daily Express
'Fresh and provocative looks at this fascinating period of history.' New Statesman
'Writing about her homeland and its history, she brings to her work a passion and commitment worthy of her vividly drawn characters.' Glasgow Herald
New Statesman
'Fresh and provocative looks at this fascinating period of
history.' --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
history.' --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
These are fictional memoirs of Ines Suarez who was the first Spanish woman to live in Chile in the 1500s. The historical details in this book are astounding, and some of the tales are extremely bloodthirsty and brutal to read. To think that some of the events they describe actually took place is almost inconceivable. Allende has a marvellous way with words and her writing style is so easy to read.
Passionate, breathtaking and bloodthirsty, this is historical fiction at is very best.
Passionate, breathtaking and bloodthirsty, this is historical fiction at is very best.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I just loved this book, but then I am a fan of most of Allende's work and also have a soft spot for Chile. I don't often read 'history' books- but I would if they were written as well as this. The reader is swept along with the passions, trials and tribulations of the Spanish seamstress who ends up helping to 'conquer' Chile.
Allende has obviously done a hugely impressive amount of research (there is a bibliography at the back for more info), and most of the characters and events hold true as far as I can tell (as Allende says, its history woven together with a bit of imagination).
I especially enjoyed the way the story is told- in the first person, as though you are reading her memoirs, and its often easy to forget that it is Isable Allende's words you are reading, not Ines de Suarez's! It's more factual and less magicical/fantasy than eg, House of Spirits, but she's such a talented writer, and she keeps just enough 'magic' in to make it enjoyable and very readable, if not really gripping in a novel sense
There is a lot of brutality - a few times I had to brace myself before reading because I knew what was coming (and some of the images will stay with me a while!), but I think it's fairly accurate- they were brutal times. The author has shown fantastic skill in relating the side of the indigenous population, even though it is written from the point of view of a Spaniard. I think she's managed this respectfully and I would think that Mapuche people reading this today would feel proud of their ancestors(as Spaniards and Catholics may be ashamed of their ancestors part in this history)
I wish this book had been published when I lived in Chile- I learnt more about this period of history from this book than I did the whole year I lived there!
It seems Allende can turn her pen to make any story come alive- if only she would write our history for us like this!
Allende has obviously done a hugely impressive amount of research (there is a bibliography at the back for more info), and most of the characters and events hold true as far as I can tell (as Allende says, its history woven together with a bit of imagination).
I especially enjoyed the way the story is told- in the first person, as though you are reading her memoirs, and its often easy to forget that it is Isable Allende's words you are reading, not Ines de Suarez's! It's more factual and less magicical/fantasy than eg, House of Spirits, but she's such a talented writer, and she keeps just enough 'magic' in to make it enjoyable and very readable, if not really gripping in a novel sense
There is a lot of brutality - a few times I had to brace myself before reading because I knew what was coming (and some of the images will stay with me a while!), but I think it's fairly accurate- they were brutal times. The author has shown fantastic skill in relating the side of the indigenous population, even though it is written from the point of view of a Spaniard. I think she's managed this respectfully and I would think that Mapuche people reading this today would feel proud of their ancestors(as Spaniards and Catholics may be ashamed of their ancestors part in this history)
I wish this book had been published when I lived in Chile- I learnt more about this period of history from this book than I did the whole year I lived there!
It seems Allende can turn her pen to make any story come alive- if only she would write our history for us like this!
Format:Paperback
I cannot praise this book enough. Allende at her best, producing an impressive novel, rich in both historical details and lyric descriptions of characters and emotions. Unputdownable, moving, informative, motivational even. As good as the "House of Spirits" - and that says a lot.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Beautifully Told Historical Novel
This novel, about a little known and rather shameful period of European colonial history, is a thrilling and passionate human story of struggle, violence, privation and love. Read more
Published on 17 May 2010 by Ila France Porcher, author of My Sunset Rendezvous
Brilliant history but not a great novel.
Ines Suarez, Allende's heroine, is a real-life 16th-century 'slapper' who follows the conquistadors from Spain to Peru to Chile in search of her missing husband. Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2010 by David Gee
Disappointing
I didn't enjoy this book as much as other Isabel Allende's books & really struggled to finish it.
I found it was mainly based on the life of Ines Suarez; (the first Spanish... Read more
I found it was mainly based on the life of Ines Suarez; (the first Spanish... Read more
Published on 3 Aug 2009 by Q
The story of a strong woman
Ines of my soul is a book about the Spanish conquest of Chile. Ines is a woman that decided to go after her man though this process. Read more
Published on 17 Oct 2008 by Pampi
Typical Allende, Fantastic story telling
I have read the majority of Allende's output and love her compelling narrative style. The thing about Allende is that she really knows how to tell a fascinating story that sucks... Read more
Published on 2 Jun 2008 by Mrs. K. A. Wheatley
The Sum of our Days
I have read almost all of Allende's books-The Sum of our Days is a follow up of family events following her book PAULA, a riveting account of her beloved daughter's tragic... Read more
Published on 30 April 2008 by B. Hewson
A must for Allende fans
If you liked A Portrait in Sepia and Daughter of Fortune, you will almost certainly appreciate this tale, which as the other reviews say, is hard-hitting and passionate. Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2007 by Ziggy Piggy
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