Isabel Allende 1942–
Prominent Chilean Author
September 11 is not just a significant date in American history. It is also a significant date in Chilean history. On September 11, 1973, Chilean president Salvadore Allende was thrown out of office in a military coup. He was Isabel Allende's uncle. Chile became a dictatorship. Allende, already a well-known writer, was forced to leave her country.
After she left Chile, Allende wrote a novel called The House of the Spirits. In it, she celebrated South American life and wrote of the hardships the people in Chile faced under the dictatorship. After the book was published in 1982, it became an instant success. Allende became one of the most widely read writers in Latin America. Her book was translated and sold in other countries.
Allende has continued to write about life in her homeland and is still considered one of South America's best writers. The beauty of Latin American culture, as well as the importance of its politics, remain themes in Allende's work.
Critical Thinking
What caused Allende to write The House of Spirits?