A Long Petal of the Sea

On September 3, 1939, the day of the Spanish exiles’ splendid arrival in Chile, the Second World War broke out in Europe. A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende masterfully weaves a tale of love, hope, and exile against the tumultuous backdrop of the 20th century. Victor Dalmau, a young and idealistic doctor, finds his life irrevocably altered by the Spanish Civil War. As the conflict rages, Victor, along with his sister-in-law, the gifted pianist Roser, are forced to flee their homeland of Barcelona.

Through poetic prose and rich historical detail, Allende transports readers as Victor and Roser embark on a perilous journey that takes them to a new sanctuary across the Atlantic in Chile — poetically described as "the long petal of sea and wine and snow" by the influential poet Pablo Neruda, whose ship carries them to their new home. In this unfamiliar land, Victor and Roser’s lives intertwine with a vibrant cast of characters whose individual stories of love, loss, struggle, and resilience span four generations.

Set against significant historical events including the rise of General Pinochet, A Long Petal of the Sea is an epic saga that not only explores the themes of exile and belonging but also the enduring capacity for hope and love amidst political turmoil and repression. The narrative is woven intricately with moments of personal and collective heartbreaks, as well as poignant instances of hope and rebuilding.

This novel is a masterpiece of historical fiction that reflects Isabel Allende's literary prowess at its peak. Its comprehensive portrayal of a family's fight for survival and freedom amid a backdrop of historical cataclysm offers readers a profound and moving experience.

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THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

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"A powerful love story spanning generations… Full of ambition and humanity" - Sunday Times

"One of the strongest and most affecting works in Allende's long career" - New York Times Book Review

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"A masterful work of historical fiction about hope, exile, and belonging" - Independent Online

"A defiantly warm and funny novel, by somebody who has earned the right to argue that love and optimism can survive whatever history might throw at us" - Daily Telegraph

"A grand storyteller who writes with surpassing compassion and insight. Her place as an icon of world literature was secured long ago" - Khaled Hosseini

"A novel not just for those of us who have been Allende fans for decades, but also for those who are brand new to her work: what a joy it must be to come upon Allende for the first time" - Colum McCann

"Allende's style is impressively Olympian and the payoff is remarkable" - Guardian

"Epic in scope, yet intimate in execution" - i