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Isabel Allende at Frankfurt Book Fair 2015 by Lesekreis –

Top 10 Facts About Isabel Allende

In a literary world dominated by male voices, Isabel Allende is a rare and remarkable unicorn. She has managed to achieve what many women writers of her time could only dream of. She broke through the male-dominated literary sphere and became one of the most celebrated and influential authors of her generation.

Her unique storytelling style has earned her a place among the greatest writers of all time. But Allende’s talent is not just in her words. She has a remarkable ability to capture the essence of the human experience and weave it into her writing in a way that is both powerful and poetic.

This article will highlight some facts about the life and career of the literary living legend, Isabel Allende.

1. Born in Peru, Raised in Chile

Lima, Peru by Miguel Vera –

Isabel was born on August 2, 1942, in Lima, Peru, where her father, Tomás Allende was serving as a diplomat. She is the daughter of Tomás and Francisca Llona Barros called “Doña Panchita”. Tomás was the first cousin of Salvador Allende who would become the Chilean president from 1970 to 1973.

At age 3 (1945), their father left them and Isabel’s mother relocated to Chile with her 3 children. They lived here till 1953 when her mother married another diplomat Ramón Huidobro. Ramón was stationed in La Paz in Bolivia and Beirut in Lebanon from 1953 to 1958 where he moved with his new family. They returned to Chile in 1958.

2. Married 3 Times

Marriage by Drew Coffman on

Over the course of her life, Isabel Allende has been married three times and has two children (all from her first marriage). Her first marriage was in 1962 to Miguel Frías, a Chilean diplomat whom she met while working as a journalist in Venezuela.

The couple had two children, a daughter named Paula and a son named Nicolás. Paula, who was born in 1963, sadly passed away in 1992 while Nicolás was born in 1966. Isabel and Miguel divorced in 1987, after 25 years of marriage.

Allende’s second marriage was to Willie Gordon, a lawyer, and environmental activist. They met while Allende was living in California, and were married in 1988. However, the marriage ended in 2015. Allende’s third marriage was in 2019 to Roger Cukras, a lawyer and writer.

3. Her First Novel Was a Best Seller

Isabel Allende burst onto the literary scene in 1982 with her debut novel, “The House of the Spirits.” It is a sweeping epic that explores the lives and loves of several generations of a Chilean family.

The novel was an instant bestseller, which was rare for a work of literary fiction by a Latin American author at the time. “The House of the Spirits” was translated into more than 30 languages.

It cemented Allende’s reputation as a major literary talent. The novel draws on Allende’s personal experiences, as well as the political and social upheavals that shaped Chile in the 20th century.

30 years later, “The House of the Spirits” remains a beloved classic of Latin American literature and a testament to Allende’s enduring talent and vision.

4. Following A Coup in Chile, She Helped Victims Escape To Safety

Isabel Allende has always been deeply committed to social justice, and this was perhaps never more evident than during the early days of General Augusto Pinochet’s coup in Chile. Allende, who at the time was working for the United Nations in Santiago, used her connections and resources to help people escape the country and find safety abroad.

She helped to set up safe houses, provided money and resources for travel, and used her own diplomatic status to ensure safe passage for those in danger. Allende herself eventually had to flee Chile, after her name appeared on a government blacklist. She went into exile in Venezuela, and it was during this time that she began writing in earnest, drawing on her own experiences and the tumultuous history of her homeland to create some of the most powerful and enduring works of literature of the 20th century.

5. Allende is an Outspoken Feminist

Feminist poster by Gayatri Malhotra on

Isabel Allende has long been an outspoken feminist, and she has used her writing and her public platform to advocate for women’s rights and gender equality. In fact, her commitment to these issues was so strong that it cost her a job early in her career.

Allende was working as a translator for a television series, and she found the female characters to be poorly written and uninteresting. In an act of defiance, she decided to doctor their dialogue, making the heroines more assertive, intelligent, and empowered. When her bosses found out what she had done, they fired her immediately.

However, this only sparked a fire in her, as she went on to become one of the most important feminist voices of her generation. Her novels are filled with complex, dynamic female characters who challenge traditional gender roles and expectations.

Discover some famous French feminists here!

6. Isabel Is Bilingual

Isabel Allende speaks to the City Club of Cleveland by City Club of Cleveland –

Isabel Allende is a bilingual author, fluent in both Spanish and English. She learned Spanish as her native language, growing up in Chile, but she also began studying English at a young age.

As a teenager, she spent time in the United States as an exchange student, where she continued to hone her English skills. Later in life, when she became a successful author, Allende made the decision to write in both languages. This allows her to reach a wider audience and share her stories with readers from around the world.

7. She has Over 26 Publications

Isabel Allende has had a prolific writing career, with over 26 books to her name. Some of her most acclaimed works include ‘The House of the Spirits (1982)’, a sweeping family saga set in Chile which was her debut novel and an instant bestseller, as well as ‘Eva Luna (1987)’, a collection of interconnected stories exploring themes of love, loss, and identity.

Other notable works include ‘Paula (1994)’, named after her late daughter, it’s a memoir about her daughter’s illness and eventual death. Another is ‘The Japanese Lover (2015)’, a novel that delves into issues of love, identity, and the complexities of family relationships. Two of her most recent works include ‘The Soul of a Woman (2021)’ and ‘Violeta (2022)’.

8. Isabel Allende is a Known Philanthropist

Eduardo Frei and Isabel Allende. by Eduardo Frei Ruiz Tagle –

Not only is Allende a celebrated author, but she is also a dedicated philanthropist. In 1996, she established the Isabel Allende Foundation in honour of her daughter, who passed away. The mission of the foundation is to empower and support women and girls worldwide through education, healthcare, and economic independence.

She has also been an active advocate for refugees and immigrants, as well as a vocal supporter of human rights and social justice issues. Through her writing and philanthropic work, Allende has made a significant impact on the world and is widely recognized for her generosity and compassion.

9. She is an Award Winner

Trophies by Ariel on

Allende is a bonafide award-winning machine having taken home many awards not to mention nominations over the course of her career. She’s got more trophies than a little league baseball team!

This literary legend has racked up a ton of accolades, including the National Book Award, Pulitzer Prize, Chile’s National Literature Prize, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She’s even been inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, which is basically like the Hall of Fame for writers.

10. Isabel is a Self-described “Workaholic”

Allende describes herself as a workaholic. This is clearly evident when you analyze her body of work over her 41-year career (so far) as an author. I mean, this woman has written more books than most of us have read and she shows no signs of slowing down.

Unfortunately, her workaholic tendencies have also led to some interesting personal situations. While she’s dedicated to her craft, she admits that her relationships have suffered.

Read about some famous female authors who changed the world here!