100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ

Overnight NZ-wide delivery on in-stock orders πŸš€

The Soul of a Woman

4.03 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 33,153 ratings, 3,744 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Isabel Allende's The Soul of a Woman explores themes of feminism, aging, and the author's personal reflections on womanhood. Blending memoir with political discourse, Allende delves into her experiences from early childhood to her activism, providing a heartfelt and thought-provoking examination of what it means to be a woman.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$4999
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're interested in exploring themes of feminism, social justice, and personal empowerment through the experiences and insights of a renowned author. It offers a compelling look at the struggles and triumphs of women, with a blend of memoir and political commentary.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Soul of a Woman: The wise, warm, defiant meditation on what it means to be a woman – from literary legend Isabel Allende

'Allende combine[s] wit with anger as she picks apart the patriarchy' Independent

'Full of Isabel's wisdom and warm words' Grazia

'Allende has everything it takes: the ear, the eye, the mind, the heart, the all-encompassing humanity' New York Times

When I say that I was a feminist in kindergarten, I am not exaggerating.

As a child, Isabel Allende watched her mother, abandoned by her husband, provide for her three small children. As a young woman coming of age in the late 1960s, she rode the first wave of feminism. She has seen what has been accomplished by the movement in the course of her lifetime. And over the course of three marriages, she has learned how to grow as a woman while having a partner, when to step away, and the rewards of embracing one's sexuality.

So what do women want? To be safe, to be valued, to live in peace, to have their own resources, to be connected, to have control over their bodies and lives, and above all, to be loved. On all these fronts, there is much work to be done, and this book, Allende hopes, will β€˜light the torch of our daughters and granddaughters with mine. They will have to live for us, as we lived for our mothers, and carry on with the work still left to be finished.’

'Her thoughts, language and ideas traverse fluidly through ideas of gender, historic injustices, her marriages and bodily experiences and literary references... Allende’s love for women is palpable' - Sydney Morning Herald

An Independent, Guardian and Grazia Highlight for 2021

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Isabel Allende's The Soul of a Woman is praised as an autobiographical meditation on feminism, power, and womanhood, filled with her wisdom and heartfelt writing. It addresses the toxic effects of machismo with both wit and anger, reflecting on gender, historic injustices, and personal experiences. Reviewers appreciate Allende's compassionate storytelling and her profound impact on literature.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781526630827

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 16 February 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 140g

Pages: 192

About the Author

Born in Peru and raised in Chile, Isabel Allende is the author of twenty-four bestselling and critically acclaimed books, including The House of the Spirits, Daughter of Fortune and City of the Beasts. A Chilean immigrant herself, Allende devotes much of her time to human rights causes and in 1996 founded the Isabel Allende Foundation. She lives in California. isabelallende.com

Also by Isabel Allende

View all
  • In the Midst of Winter
    In the Midst of Winter by New York Times bestselling author Isabel Allende is a beautifully crafted, multi-generational novel that weaves together stories of struggle, endurance, and unexpected friendship. Set amidst the biggest Brooklyn snowstorm in living memory, the narrative cleverly intertwines the lives of three disparate characters who are brought together by a fateful accident. Richard Bowmaster, a lonely...
    Paperback
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Wind Knows My Name
    The powerful and moving new novel from literary legend Isabel Allende - A Richard and Judy Book Club Pick for July 2024. β€˜A testament to love, survival and sacrifice’ HARPER’S BAZAAR No, we're not lost. The wind knows my name. And yours too. The Wind Knows My Name weaves a rich tapestry of historical events and personal stories, transporting readers...
    Paperback
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • 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...
    Paperback
    $2000
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • My Name is Emilia del Valle
    'A spellbinding masterpiece' SANTA MONTEFIORE'Isabel Allende is a literary treasure' KRISTIN HANNAH'A captivating novel of love and war from one of our most revered storytellers' KATE MORTON The new historical novel from literary legend Isabel Allende Emilia del Valle was always destined for great things. Abandoned at birth by her Chilean aristocrat father, Emilia comes of age in nineteenth-century San...
    Paperback
    $3699
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The House of the Spirits
    Allende's magical realist epic is an international classic - 'thick with plot and bristling with characters. A novel to be read for its brilliant craftsmanship and its narrative of inescapable power' El Pais. As a girl, Clara del Valle can read fortunes, make objects move as if they had lives of their own, and predict the future. Following the mysterious...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    Backorder
    Ships mid August
  • Of Love and Shadows
    Of Love and Shadows is a deeply moving novel by the multi-million-bestselling author Isabel Allende, renowned for her works such as The House of the Spirits and The Japanese Lover. The novel follows Irene BeltrΓ‘n, an intrepid and determined magazine journalist. Despite her privileged upbringing, Irene defies societal expectations and dives headfirst into her career, using her platform to challenge...
    Paperback
    $2299
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    17% off
    The Japanese Lover
    From the internationally bestselling author Isabel Allende comes The Japanese Lover, an exquisitely crafted, multigenerational love story that seamlessly interweaves the past and the present, showcasing the enduring power of human connection against the backdrop of history's most tumultuous events. In 1939, as Poland falls under the ominous shadow of the Nazis and the world edges towards war, young Alma...
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Eva Luna
    Eva Luna is a profound and mesmerizing tale by the acclaimed author Isabel Allende, who brought you the unforgettable novels The House of the Spirits and The Japanese Lover. The novel introduces us to Eva Luna, a striking character whose life is as extraordinary as the stories she narrates. Eva Luna's journey begins with her unconventional birth to a professor's...
    Paperback
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Violeta
    THE NEW NOVEL FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR ISABEL ALLENDE, THE WIND KNOWS MY NAME, IS OUT NOW Epic, beautifully crafted... Gripping from start to finish DAILY TELEGRAPH A must for historical fiction lovers COUNTRY AND TOWNHOUSE A new novel by Isabel Allende is always a treat DAILY MAIL One extraordinary woman. One hundred years of history. One unforgettable story. Violeta comes...
    Paperback
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Perla and the Pirate
    Get ready to meet Perla – the feisty, magical rescue dog who will steal your heart! From the #1 international bestselling author Isabel Allende and award-winning illustrator Sandy Rodriguez comes another irresistible picture book about Perla, the Mighty Dog, and the family who love her! Perla is a small dog with a BIG personality and a very impressive roar. Her...
    Hardback
    $5499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • A Long Petal of the Sea
    _______________THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER_______________ '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 _______________ On September 3, 1939, the day of the Spanish exiles’ splendid arrival in Chile, the Second World War broke...
    Hardback
    $3699
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The House of the Spirits
    VINTAGE QUARTERBOUND CLASSICS - Bound to be beautiful A beautiful hardback edition of a Latin American classic - the enthralling saga of three generations of a proud and passionate family, secret loves and violent revolution. 'Extraordinary... Powerful... Sharply observant, witty and eloquent' New York Times As a girl, Clara del Valle can read fortunes, make objects move as if they...
    Hardback
    $3600
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships today

More from Politics & Current Affairs

View all
  • New Release
    One Last Question, Prime Minister
    From Muldoon to Luxon, untold stories from the House of Parliament Barry Soper has spent close to five decades questioning New Zealand's prime ministers.From the imposing, larger-than-life characters of Rob Muldoon and David Lange, to the golden age of Helen Clark and John Key, and the post-Covid era of Jacinda Ardern and the 'Chrises', Soper's insight and nose for a...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (6)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    Regime Change
    From the two reporters who have covered him more closely than perhaps anyone else over the past decade comes this definitive portrait of Donald Trump in the White House and the first year of his second presidency. Based on hundreds of interviews and unprecedented reporting from deep within the administration’s most closely guarded rooms, Regime Change takes the reader into...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $4299
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    A Different Kind of Power
    #1 New Zealand bestseller #1 Amazon bestseller #2 Audible bestseller #3 New York Times bestseller #3 Sunday Times bestseller #4 Australian bestseller From the former prime minister of New Zealand, then the world’s youngest female head of government and just the second to give birth in office, comes a deeply personal memoir chronicling her extraordinary rise and offering inspiration to...
    Paperback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • A Different Kind of Power
    Ockham Winner
    A Different Kind of Power
    What if we could redefine leadership? What if kindness came first? Jacinda Ardern grew up the daughter of a police officer in small-town New Zealand, but as the 40th Prime Minister of her country, she commanded global respect for her empathetic leadership that put people first. This is the remarkable story of how a Mormon girl plagued by self-doubt made...
    Hardback
    $4799
    Elsewhere:
    $5999
    (7)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Signed Copy
    Go Hard or Go Home
    From the front bench to rock bottom:Β Go Hard or Go HomeΒ is Kiri Allan's fearless memoir of ambition, disruption and survival in NZ politics and beyond. Kiri Allan's six-year political career spanned some of the most challenging times in recent history. Events a government might encounter once in a generation stacked up: a terrorist attack, a volcanic eruption, destructive and deadly...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    Pre-order
    Out 4 Aug 2026
  • New Release
    Suicidal Empathy
    The bestselling author of The Parasitic Mind shows why empathy in politics leads to civilizational collapse. What happens when a society elevates victimhood to a virtue and decides that punishment is cruel? You get the disease Dr. Gad Saad calls suicidal empathy. And the West may be terminally infected. In his new book, Suicidal Empathy, Saad unleashes a blistering critique...
    Paperback
    $3099
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    The Day After: How to Wield Power in a Post-Trump World
    From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Shameless, Brian Tyler Cohen explores how Republicans have abused power, how Democrats have refused to exercise power when they held it, and how progressives should wield power if they are fortunate enough to win a free and fair election in a post-Trump world. The Day After: How to Wield Power in...
    Paperback
    $3099
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Careless People
    Shocking and darkly funny, Careless People gives you a front-row seat to the decisions that are shaping our world and the people who make them. Welcome to Facebook. Sarah Wynn-Williams, a young diplomat from New Zealand, pitched for her dream job. She saw Facebook's potential and knew it could change the world for the better. But, when she got there...
    Paperback
    $2800
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Discipline
    Silence is complicity, but how do we confront the cost of speaking up? Sydney, May 2021. Ashraf is an academic whose career and personal life are in freefall. Hannah is a young journalist struggling to honour the voices of her community. When a Year 12 Al-Bayinnah College student is arrested for protesting a university's ties to an Israeli weapons manufacturer,...
    Paperback
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Shattered Lands
    'A sparkling debut by an outstanding young historian' – PETER FRANKOPAN 'This book is a revelation … both original and important' – MISHAL HUSAIN A history of modern South Asia told through five partitions that reshaped it. As recently as 1928, a vast swathe of Asia – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and...
    Paperback
    $3699
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Handmaid's Tale
    The bestselling dystopian classic that became a cultural phenomenon and inspired an award-winning TV series. THE SUNDAY TIMES NO. 1 BESTSELLER Go back to where it all began with the dystopian novel behind the award-winning TV series. 'As relevant today as it was when Atwood wrote it.' Guardian I believe in the resistance as I believe there can be no...
    Paperback
    $2000
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • This Way Up
    The debut book from the YouTube sensation and all-round cartographical nerds, The Map Men! In their long-awaited debut, YouTube’s Map Men bring their highly infectious enthusiasm for everything map-related to the printed page for the very first time, in a brilliantly entertaining and eye-catching tome. Packed with humour and fascinating facts, This Way Up takes a deep dive into the...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships today

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.