My Name Is Emilia del Valle
A Novel
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4.3 • 171 Ratings
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • In this “stunning” (People), “riveting” (Entertainment Weekly) historical novel, a young writer journeys to South America to uncover the truth about her father—and herself.
“All of Allende’s books, My Name Is Emilia del Valle included, have the epic feel of a major Hollywood film.”—Associated Press
AN NPR AND NEW YORKER BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
In San Francisco in 1866, an Irish nun, abandoned following a torrid relationship with a Chilean aristocrat, gives birth to a daughter named Emilia del Valle. Raised by a loving stepfather, Emilia grows into an independent thinker and a self-sufficient young woman.
To pursue her passion for writing, she is willing to defy societal norms. At the age of seventeen, she begins to publish pulp fiction using a man’s pen name. When these fictional worlds can no longer satisfy her sense of adventure, she turns to journalism, convincing an editor at The Daily Examiner to hire her. There she is paired with another talented reporter, Eric Whelan.
As she proves herself, her restlessness returns, until an opportunity arises to cover a brewing civil war in Chile. She seizes it, as does Eric, and while there, she meets her estranged father and delves into the violent confrontation in the country where her roots lie. As she and Eric discover love, the war escalates and Emilia finds herself in extreme danger, fearing for her life and questioning her identity and her destiny.
A riveting tale of self-discovery and love from one of the most masterful storytellers of our time, My Name Is Emilia del Valle introduces a character who will never let hold of your heart.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In the riveting latest from Allende (The Wind Knows My Name), a journalist finds love and danger while covering the Chilean Civil War. Emilia del Valle was raised in San Francisco's Mission District by her Irish American mother, Molly Walsh, who left her life of Catholic religious service after an affair with Emilia's birth father, Gonzalo Andrés del Valle, a wealthy Chilean playboy. In 1892, 23-year-old Emilia is hired as a columnist for the Daily Examiner and sent to Chile to cover the war along with journalist Eric Whalen, with whom she begins a romance. The fearless Emilia lands an interview with Chile's besieged president and joins a group of "canteen girls" who assist pro-government troops with food and water and nurse the wounded. The war's horrors come to life under Emilia's unerring and steady eye, as she records atrocities committed by both sides. The thrilling and revelatory wartime narrative dovetails with a poignant family drama, as Emilia manages to track down her elusive father, who still carries the guilt of abandoning her and Molly. Allende's writing is as lush as ever, such as her description of a tense funeral scene near the end, when "hatred had dissolved like salt in water." The author's legions of fans will love this.
Customer Reviews
CalVal
I must say this story did not disappoint. Well written, rich in visuals and a sweet love story! More, more…please!
Too military minded for me
Isabel Allende is my favorite author. I eagerly anticipate each of her new novels. This time around I was disappointed. The novel was too focused on military maneuvers, politics and battle scenes for me.