One of Carol Drinkwater's favourite books.

May 2011 Guest Editor Carol Drinkwater on The House of the Spirits...

Since discovering this book, I have bought every Allende, but for me this remains her finest. It recounts the horrors of living under Pinochet’s regime in Chile. At the heart is a family’s story. Allende paints a world that is magical, epic, heartrending, harrowing. A masterpiece.

The Lovereading view...

Spanning four generations, Isabel Allende's family saga is populated by an often eccentric cast of characters. Together, men and women, spirits, the forces of nature and of history, converge in a brlliantly realised novel.

Synopsis

Spanning four generations, Isabel Allende's family saga is populated by a memorable, often eccentric, cast of characters. Together, men and women, spirits, the forces of nature and of history, converge in a brlliantly realised novel.

Reviews

A spellbinding saga written around the political history of 20th century Chile. Esteban Trueta, domineering and passionate right-wing politician and his wife Clara, serene and psychic, who predicts the future and communes with the spirits, are the parents of idealistic left-wing children. The bloody coup that results from the flashpoint political situation brings the family together in an extraordinary and unexpected way. A vital and imaginative novel of great power. (Kirkus UK)

About the Author

Isabel Allende was born in Chile, and now lives in California. She worked for many years as a journalist before writing the internationally bestselling novel The House of the Spirits. Since then she has published the equally highly-acclaimed Of Love and Shadows, Eva Luna, The Stories of Eva Luna, ‘The Infinite Plan and ‘Paula. More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation