Why a Booktrail?
This is THE book to read to gain an insight into Latin America and especially Chile. A novel of Magical realism.
The House Of The Spirits
What you need to know before your trail
Isabel Allende weaves a luminous tapestry of three generations of the Trueba family.
Esteban has wild desires and political ideals but he loves his wife, Clara, a woman with issues of her own.
Daughter, Blanca in is love with a man Esteban has deemed unworthy but when granddaughter Alba comes along, things change
A family saga with a journey through the political and social upheaval in Chile. A story of magical realism, stunning landscapes and history.
Travel Guide
Although set in an unnamed country, the landscapes setting and history make it clear that this is Chile and could only be Chile.
Allende herself used to live there and she had to flee following the coup in 1973. Having such strong and familial links to the country, it is perhaps expected that she should want to write of her land in this way.
You can certainly feel the atmosphere of the settings – the vineyards or the cordillera –
“The city had expanded into the foothills of the cordillera. There was not a trace of the square where he had played as a little boy….”
Less pleasant but equally strong and realistic is the portrayal and insight into the dictatorship
The day of the coup the sun was shining, a rare event even in the timid spring that was just dawning how difficult yet therapeutic must it have been to write this as with it we get a sense of how Allende is showing the glory and the downfall of her country and paying homage to its beauty and its people
Allende is like a painter who has painted in several colourful layers – some of which aren’t dry yet – a country of catastrophes” It reveals her impressions and experiences neatly tied into those of her characters
A nice touch is the inclusion of such historical and literary figures such as Chile’s most be;loved poet Pablo Neruda and Pinochet.
As the places are fictional, the booktrail recreates some of the sights linked to the historical events in the book
Booktrail Boarding Pass Information: The House of the Spirits
Guide: Isabel Allende Destination: Chile Departure Time: Various
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