Set in a country of arbitrary arrests, sudden disappearances and summary executions, Isabel Allende's magical new novel tells of the passionate affair of two people prepared to risk everything for the sake of justice and truth. Irene Beltran, a reporter, comes from a wealthy background; Francisco Leal, a young photographer secretly engaged in undermining the military dictatorship, is strongly attracted by her beauty. It does not matter that Irene's fiance is an army captain: each time Francisco accompanies her on a magazine assignment, he falls more deeply in love with her.When they go to investigate the mysterious case of Evangelina Ranquileo, a girl suffering from spectacular fits which are rumoured to have miraculous powers, the arrival of soldiers adds a sinister aspect to the mystery. And then Evangelina disappears. Irene and Francisco, in trying to trace her and indict the Junta, become engulfed in a vortex of terror and violence.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
"'Her pen has a clenched fist and cries out against injustice. Viva Allende!'" (Kate Saunders Books)
"'This is propaganda on the side of the angels. Latin American dictators had better ban it immediately'" (Jill Neville Independent)
"'Breathtaking...an imaginative landscape where fabulous things happen'" (Helen Birch City Limits)
"'This is propaganda on the side of the angels. Latin American dictators had better ban it immediately'" (Jill Neville Independent)
"'Breathtaking...an imaginative landscape where fabulous things happen'" (Helen Birch City Limits)
From the Back Cover
Set in a country of arbitrary arrests, sudden disappearances and summary executions, Isabel Allende's magical new novel tells of the passionate affair between two people prepared to risk everything for the sake of justice and truth: Irene Beltran, a reporter, comes from a wealthy background; Francisco Leal, a young photographer secretly engaged in undermining the military dictatorship, is strongly attracted by her beauty. It does not matter that her fiance is an army captain: each time Francisco accompanies her on a magazine assignment, he falls more deeply in love with her.
When they go to investigate the mysterious case of Evangelina Ranquileo, a girl suffering from spectacular fits which are rumoured to have miraculous powers, the arrival of soldiers adds a sinister aspect to the mystery. And then Evangelina disappears. Irene and Francisco, in trying to trace her and indict the Junta, become engulfed in a vortex of terror and violence.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I chose this novel from a list to write an essay based on the political themes in the story. I found the style a bit uncomfortble at first, but I have never read a book translated from Spanish before. Once I got around 100 pages in, I loved the story and stayed up late last night finishing it off.
Allende's greatest skill is making the reader care for her characters. Obviously, the oppressive regime infiltrates every level of the text, but primarily, it is the characters that we care for. We see the effect of autocratic militarian government on the people, rather than the economy of statistics.
I'm really glad that I chose to read this novel. I would recommend it to anyone who fancies a change in their normal reading matter. It's just a shame I'm writing a Politics essay, and not commenting on her wonderful style!
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Fantastic book! Allende's style of writing makes you fall in love with the characters, to the extent that you can visualise everything that goes on. Really easy to follow, and so enthralling that I couldn't put it down! Many of the events and situations are based on fact, and that makes this book all the more heart wrenching. It was just a shame that the book had to come to an end. I would have cried real tears at the ending if I hadn't have been on the bus at the time! I would really recommend this book.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Pat B
Format:Paperback
i'm a huge fan of Isabel Allende and had somehow missed reading this book. it starts of a bit slow and took a while for me to remember all of the characters in the book and who they were/who they were related to. But once i had read a few chapters undisturbed, realised that i was truely engrossed in the storyline and didn't want to put it down. Recommended.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 32 reviews
3.9 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ring of authenticity
Living under a Latin American military dictatorship, the two central characters Francisco and Irene probe a disappearance. Read more
Published 1 month ago by JoTownhead
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping love story set under the cloud of military dictatorship
The army has usurped power in Chile, and curfews, crackdowns and disappearances have become commonplace. Read more
Published 7 months ago by jacr100
5.0 out of 5 stars
Haunting
A haunting, sometimes heartwarming and sometimes frightening novel of life under a dictatorship in an unnamed South American country (very clearly Chile under the Pinochet... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Kate Hopkins
5.0 out of 5 stars
OF LOVE AND SHADOWS
This was a present for my wife,who was unable to find it in the library,
well worth the money,first class story,
postage and delivery times spot on.
well worth the money,first class story,
postage and delivery times spot on.
Published on 31 Aug 2009 by E. TIERNEY
3.0 out of 5 stars
Readable, but the writing's a little wooden
It's not a bad plot, and certainly it would have resonated with readers in the late 1980s, when it was first published. The main characters of Francisco and Irene are well-drawn. Read more
Published on 27 Sep 2005
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
