Amazon.com ReviewIsabel Allende has established herself as one of the most consummate of all modern storytellers, a reputation that is confirmed in her novel Portrait in Sepia. Allende offers a compelling saga of the turbulent history, lives, and loves of late 19th-century Chile, drawing on characters from her earlier novels, The House of Spirits and Daughter of Fortune.In typical Allende fashion, Portrait in Sepia is crammed with love, desire, tragedy, and dark family secrets, all played out against the dramatic backdrop of revolutionary Chile. Our heroine Aurora del Valle's mother is a Chilean-Chinese beauty, while her father is a dissolute scion of the wealthy and powerful del Valle family. At the heart of Aurora's slow, painful re-creation of her childhood towers one of Allende's greatest fictional creations, the heroine's grandmother, Paulina del Valle. An "astute, bewigged Amazon with a gluttonous appetite," Paulina holds both the del Valle family and Allende's novel together as she presides over Aurora's adolescence in a haze of pastries, taffeta, and overweening love.One of the most interesting aspects of the novel is Allende's decision to turn her heroine into a photographer: "through photography and the written word I try desperately to conquer the transitory nature of my existence, to trap moments before they evanesce, to untangle the confusion of my past." There is little confusion in Allende's elegantly crafted and hugely enjoyable novel. --Jerry Brotton, Amazon.co.ukFrom Publishers WeeklyHIn this third work concerning the various and intertwining lives of members of a Chilean family, Allende uses the metaphor of photography as memory. "Each of us chooses the tone for telling his or her own story; I would like to choose the durable clarity of a platinum print, but nothing in my destiny possesses that luminosity. I live among diffuse shadings, veiled mysteries, uncertainties; the tone for telling my life is closer to that of a portrait in sepia," declares Aurora del Valle, protagonist of the tale. Here, Allende picks up where 1999's Daughter of Fortune left off, and, in the course of her chronicles, mentions personages who were realized in her 1987 masterpiece, House of the Spirits. Like her other novels, Portrait in Sepia spans nearly 50 years and covers wars, love affairs, births, weddings and funerals. Rich and complex, this international, turn-of-the-century saga does not disappoint. The book opens as 30-year-old Aurora remembers her own birth, in the Chinatown of 1880 San Francisco. She tells of those present: her maternal, Chilean-English grandmother, Eliza; her grandfather Tao (a Chinese medic); and her mother, Lynn, a beloved beauty who dies during Aurora's birth. Realizing she is getting ahead of herself, Aurora backtracks, inviting the reader to be patient and listen to the events surrounding her life, from 1862 to 1910. Through Aurora, Allende exercises her supreme storytelling abilities, of which strong, passionate characters are paramount. Most memorable is Aurora's paternal grandmother, Paulina del Valle, an enormous woman who eats pastries and runs her trading company with equally reckless abandon. Like Paulina, Allende attacks her subject with gusto, making this a grand installment in an already impressive repertoire. Major ad/promo; 7-city author tour.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Más allá del invierno (Spanish Edition)

M©Łs all©Ł del invierno

Retrato en sepia

Isabel Allende; Margaret Sayers Peden

Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial España

Harper Perennial Modern Classics

Longman Publishing

Plaza & Janés

PLAZA & JANES

Flamingo

1st Harper Perennial Modern Classics deluxe ed, New York, 2010

Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, S.A.U., Barcelona, 2017

First Harper Perennial edition, New York, 2006

1st Harper Perennial ed, New York, 2006

United States, United States of America

1st Perennial ed, New York, NY, 2001

Reissue, US, 2006

May 11, 2010

Spain, Spain

May 2, 2006

lg_fict_id_1104260

<p><P>In nineteenth-century Chile, Aurora del Valle suffers a brutal trauma that erases all recollections of the first five years of her life. Raised by her regal and ambitious grandmother Paulina del Valle, Aurora grows up in a privileged environment but is tormented by horrible nightmares. When she is forced to recognize her betrayal at the hands of the man she loves, and to cope with the resulting solitude, she explores the mystery of her past.</p><h3>Book Magazine</h3><p>In the opening paragraph of her ninth, exotic book, Isabel Allende issues a warning&#58; This is a long story, the narrator cautions, and it begins before my birth; it requires patience in the telling and even more in the listening. <BR> <BR> No false modesty there. Reading the first several pages of <I>Portrait in Sepia</I> is like watching the ball roll, skitter and drop in a perpetual-motion machine. Courtesans, aristocrats, seafarers, orphans, nephews and grandmothers, not to mention purveyors of erotica, rush tantalizingly by; everything's a scandal. A whorl of place names&#151;San Francisco, Chile, Panama, London, New York, Florence&#151;further threatens all reason and calm. Every tangent leads to at least two more, and it is almost impossible to make a guess at where the story's going. Who is this book about, and why should we care? You can almost hear Allende laughing at her readers' inevitable confusion. <BR> <BR> But Allende is nothing if not a wholly self-confident spinner of baroquely complicated tales. She has no interest in narrative ease; she prefers, instead, to tantalize and to perform. <I>Portrait in Sepia</I> is, in some ways, a sequel to Allende's <I>Daughter of Fortune</I>, and the author clearly has a lot to say about one spectacularly sprawling, barely legitimate family. She wants her characters to dance out on the stage. Her head is full of gossip, titillation and naughty sex. <BR> <BR> Ostensibly, <I>Portrait in Sepia</I> is about Aurora del Valle, the granddaughter of the wanderlust-ridden Eliza Sommers, who starred in <I>Daughter of Fortune</I>. To get to Aurora's story, however, we must first go back and find her roots, must learn the sordid details ofher conception and the tragic circumstances of her birth, must meet the maternal grandparents who raise the child until the age of five, must spend time in the company of the paternal grandmother, the fabulous Paulina del Valle, who spirits Aurora away to Valparaiso, Chile, soon after the child is summarily placed in her care. Aurora's first impression of Paulina is fabulously drawn in Allende's coy and captivating style&#58; Since I saw her so many times in that same chair, it isn't hard to picture how she looked that first day&#58; gowned in a profusion of jewels and enough cloth to curtain a house. Imposing. Beside her, the rest of the world disappeared ... I had never seen a creature of such dimensions, perfectly matched to the size and sumptuousness of her mansion. <BR> <BR> Practically hurled into the exceptional world of her paternal grandmother, and soon faced with the confusing politics of a restless Chile, Aurora, an easily embarrassed and inherently shy child, suddenly finds herself among dozens of cousins and uncles, aunts and tutors and society do-gooders, not to mention an entire catalog of intrigues. Everyone in this book has a story to tell. Paulina, for her part, remains preposterously oversized&#151;her hairstyle and wardrobe, her work and home, her charity and business propositions. But all the distractions of Paulina's tempestuous household do not prevent Aurora from seeking answers about the mystery of her birth and early years. Paulina has made it her business to eradicate the child's tragic past. Aurora, who suffers from private torments and nightmares, chafes against the obfuscation. Her history is like a mist that she can't quite push through. She turns in all directions, questioning, but no one will yield the slightest answers. <BR> <BR> Told by both third- and first-person narrators, riddled by countless subplots (many of which are only peripherally linked back to Aurora), the book follows Aurora's maturation from a bewildered child and idiosyncratic young teenager through her unhappy marriage and erotic intrigues. It delves&#151;although not entirely convincingly, and with an uncharacteristically stilted prose&#151;into her passion for photography, a medium that purportedly helps her see and know the world. It explicates (and also sometimes seems to make light of) the civil unrest that churns outside her door. Throughout, plot is rarely the focus; instead, the book is exuberantly and perpetually about people, just as it is exuberantly and perpetually about Allende's high-kicking prose. Allende's imagination is a spectacle unto itself&#151;she infects her readers with her own colossal dreams. <BR> <BR> The end of <I>Portrait in Sepia</I>, sadly, is a disappointment; the origins of Aurora's disturbing nightmares, while revealed, do not surprise the reader. And Aurora as a young woman never quite springs to life&#151;the final biographical details and intrigues feel tacked on, out of steam, manipulated. But with <I>Portrait in Sepia</I>, Allende proves once again that she is capable of concocting stories of the most vivid and surreal kind, that she is still in the business of teasing, seducing, lusting, shocking. Allende, it seems, has fun when she writes. Her books are effusive and energizing, and therefore fun to read.<BR> &#151;Beth Kephart <BR> <BR></p>

Una de las historias más personales de Isabel Allende, repleta de emoción, amor y segundas oportunidades. Isabel Allende parte de la célebre cita de Albert Camus -«en medio del invierno aprendí por fin que había en mí un verano invencible»- para urdir una trama que presenta la geografía humana de unos personajes propios de la América de hoy que se hallan «en el más profundo invierno de sus vidas»: una chilena, una joven guatemalteca ilegal y un maduro norteamericano. Los tres sobreviven a un terrible temporal de nieve que cae en pleno invierno sobre Nueva York y acaban aprendiendo que más allá del invierno hay sitio para el amor inesperado y para el verano invencible que siempre ofrece la vida cuando menos se espera. Más allá del invierno es una de las historias más personales de Isabel Allende: una obra absolutamente actual que aborda la realidad de la emigración y la identidad de la América de hoy a través de unos personajes que encuentran la esperanza en el amor y en las segundas oportunidades. Reseñas: «Más allá del invierno es una novela abundante en denuncias sociales e ideológicas. Isabel Allende nos ofrece en este libro un completo menú narrativo como lectura vacacional; un verano incencible o por lo menos ameno y socialmente concienciado con su vitalidad literaria y existencia.» El Correo Español «Los amantes del best seller están de enhorabuena: ha vuelto Isabel Allende con una novela de las suyas, repleta de emoción y amor.» El Cultural En los blogs... «Yo disfruto con estas historias que nos cuenta Allende, cuya temática va derivando lentamente al tema de la vejez, visto eso sí, con una vitalidad y una alegría contagiosa.» Blog El búho entre libros «Encontramos aquí a la Allende más personal, que vuelve a tratar temas universales como la soledad, la muerte, el amor, las segundas oportunidades y, sobre todo, esas historias personales que aparentemente no tienen nada que ver pero se unen para demostrar que las bonitas casualidades existen.» Blog Lecturafilia «Cada día que pasa más me convenzo de que Isabel Allende es una de mis autoras favoritas. Os animo a que os iniciéis con ella porque no os defraudará.Es capaz de meter temas de actualidad sin perder ni un ápice su manera de escribir.» Blog Te deseo un libro «Isabel Allende siempre nos hace dar un paseo muy, muy agradable por sus historias con esa forma de contar suya tan sencilla y tan sentimental.» Rocío Díaz Gómez «[...]He conectado completamente con sus personajes e historias y me ha encantado este reencuentro con Isabel Allende.» Blog Adivina Quién lee «Como siempre, me ha gustado mucho leer a Isabel Allende, reconocer su estilo sencillo, cercano, con ese toque de humor, siempre aprovechando la realidad que la rodea para construir un nuevo libro con el que hacernos disfrutar.» Blog Bitácoras de mis lecturas

La Esperada Nueva Novela De Isabel Allende. Isabel Allende Parte De La Célebre Cita De Albert Camus -«en Medio Del Invierno Aprendí Por Fin Que Había En Mí Un Verano Invencible»- Para Urdir Una Trama Que Presenta La Geografía Humana De Unos Personajes Propios De La América De Hoy Que Se Hallan «en El Más Profundo Invierno De Sus Vidas»: Una Chilena, Una Joven Guatemalteca Ilegal Y Un Maduro Norteamericano. Los Tres Sobreviven A Un Terrible Temporal De Nieve Que Cae En Pleno Invierno Sobre Nueva York Y Acaban Aprendiendo Que Más Allá Del Invierno Hay Sitio Para El Amor Inesperado Y Para El Verano Invencible Que Siempre Ofrece La Vida Cuando Menos Se Espera. Más Allá Del Invierno Es Una De Las Historias Más Personales De Isabel Allende: Una Obra Absolutamente Actual Que Aborda La Realidad De La Emigración Y La Identidad De La América De Hoy A Través De Unos Personajes Que Encuentran La Esperanza En El Amor Y En Las Segundas Oportunidades. Reseñas: «más Allá Del Invierno Es Una Novela Abundante En Denuncias Sociales E Ideológicas. Isabel Allende Nos Ofrece En Este Libro Un Completo Menú Narrativo Como Lectura Vacacional; Un Verano Incencible O Por Lo Menos Ameno Y Socialmente Concienciado Con Su Vitalidad Literaria Y Existencia.» El Correo Español «los Amantes Del Best Seller Están De Enhorabuena: Ha Vuelto Isabel Allende Con Una Novela De Las Suyas, Repleta De Emoción Y Amor.» El Cultural En Los Blogs... «yo Disfruto Con Estas Historias Que Nos Cuenta Allende, Cuya Temática Va Derivando Lentamente Al Tema De La Vejez, Visto Eso Sí, Con Una Vitalidad Y Una Alegría Contagiosa.» Blog El Búho Entre Libros «encontramos Aquí A La Allende Más Personal, Que Vuelve A Tratar Temas Universales Como La Soledad, La Muerte, El Amor, Las Segundas Oportunidades Y, Sobre Todo, Esas Historias Personales Que Aparentemente No Tienen Nada Que Ver Pero Se Unen Para Demostrar Que Las Bonitas Casualidades Existen.» Blog Lecturafilia «cada Día Que Pasa Más Me Convenzo De Que Isabel Allende Es Una De Mis Autoras Favoritas. Os Animo A Que Os Iniciéis Con Ella Porque No Os Defraudará. Es Capaz De Meter Temas De Actualidad Sin Perder Ni Un ápice Su Manera De Escribir.» Blog Te Deseo Un Libro «isabel Allende Siempre Nos Hace Dar Un Paseo Muy, Muy Agradable Por Sus Historias Con Esa Forma De Contar Suya Tan Sencilla Y Tan Sentimental.» Rocío Díaz Gómez «[...]he Conectado Completamente Con Sus Personajes E Historias Y Me Ha Encantado Este Reencuentro Con Isabel Allende.» Blog Adivina Quién Lee «como Siempre, Me Ha Gustado Mucho Leer A Isabel Allende, Reconocer Su Estilo Sencillo, Cercano, Con Ese Toque De Humor, Siempre Aprovechando La Realidad Que La Rodea Para Construir Un Nuevo Libro Con El Que Hacernos Disfrutar.» Blog Bitácoras De Mis Lecturas

Una obra de extraordinaria dimension humana que eleva la narrativa de la autora a cotas de perfeccion literariaNarrada en la voz de una joven mujer, esta es una magnifica novela historica, situada a finales del siglo XIX en Chile, y una portentosa saga familiar en la que reencontramos algunos personajes de Hija de la fortun a y de La casa de los espiritus, novelas cumbre en la obra de Isabel Allende. El tema principal es la memoria y los secretos de familia. La protagonista, Aurora del Valle, sufre un trauma brutal que determina su caracter y borra de su mente los primeros cinco años de su vida. Criada por su ambiciosa abuela, Paulina del Valle, crece en un ambiente privilegiado, libre de muchas de las limitaciones que oprimen a las mujeres de su epoca, pero atormentada por horribles pesadillas. Cuando debe afrontar la traicion del hombre que ama y la soledad, decide explorar el misterio de su pasado. Una obra de extraordinaria dimension humana que eleva la narrativa de la autora a cotas de perfeccion literaria.

La esperada nueva novela de Isabel Allende. Isabel Allende parte de la c©♭lebre cita de Albert Camus -℗±en medio del invierno aprend©Ư por fin que hab©Ưa en m©Ư un verano invencible℗- para urdir una trama que presenta la geograf©Ưa humana de unos personajes propios de la Am©♭rica de hoy que se hallan ℗±en el m©Łs profundo invierno de sus vidas℗: una chilena, una joven guatemalteca ilegal y un maduro norteamericano. Los tres sobreviven a un terrible temporal de nieve que cae en pleno invierno sobre Nueva York y acaban aprendiendo que m©Łs all©Ł del invierno hay sitio para el amor inesperado y para el verano invencible que siempre ofrece la vida cuando menos se espera. M©Łs all©Ł del invierno es una de las historias m©Łs personales de Isabel Allende: una obra absolutamente actual que aborda la realidad de la emigraci©đn y la identidad de la Am©♭rica de hoy a trav©♭s de unos personajes que encuentran la esperanza en el amor y en las segundas oportunidades

A sequel to Daughter of Fortune, New York Times bestselling author, Isabel Allende, continues her magic with this spellbinding family saga set against war and economic hardship.
Aurora del Valle suffers a brutal trauma that erases from her mind all recollection of the first five years of her life. Raised by her ambitious grandmother, the regal and commanding Paulina del Valle, she grows up in a privileged environment, free of the limitations that circumscribe the lives of women at that time, but tormented by horrible nightmares. When she is forced to recognize her betrayal at the hands of the man she loves, and to cope with the resulting solitude, she decides to explore the mystery of her past.
Portrait in Sepia is an extraordinary achievement: richly detailed, epic in scope, intimate in its probing of human character, and thrilling in the way it illuminates the complexity of family ties.

"Recounted in the voice of a young woman in search of her roots, Portrait in Sepia is a novel about memory and family secrets. Aurora del Valle suffers a brutal trauma that shapes her character and erases from her mind all recollection of the first five years of her life. Raised by her ambitious grandmother, the regal and commanding Paulina del Valle, she grows up in a privileged environment, free of the limitations that circumscribe the lives of women at that time, but tormented by horrible nightmares. When she is forced to recognize her betrayal at the hands of the man she loves, and to cope with the resulting solitude, she decides to explore the mystery of her past."-- Book jacket

In the middle of a snowstorm in Brooklyn, 60-year-old human rights scholar Richard Bowmaster hits the car of Evelyn Ortega, a young, undocumented immigrant from Guatemala. What at first seems just a small inconvenience takes a far more serious turn when Evelyn turns up at the professor's house seeking help. At a loss, the professor asks his tenant Lucia Maraz, a 62-year-old lecturer from Chile, for her advice. These three very different people are brought together in a story that moves from present-day Brooklyn to Guatemala in the recent past to 1970s Chile and Brazil, sparking the beginning of a long overdue love story between Richard and Lucia

Aurora del Valle, raised in the privileged class of Chile by her overwhelming grandmother, is tormented by nightmares and half-memories of events that occurred when she was a child in San Francisco's Chinatown. When she becomes disillusioned with her marriage, Aurora sets out to rediscover her missing memories

Lacking all memory of the first five years of her life because of a brutal trauma, Aurora del Valle is raised by her regal grandmother Paulina and eventually seeks to confront the mystery of her past, in a novel set in late-nineteenth-century Chile

I came into the world one Tuesday in the autumn of 1880, in San Francisco, in the home of my maternal grandparents.

Vine al mundo un martes de otono de 1880, bajo el techo de mis abuelos maternos, en San Francisco.

2021-10-23