The unforgettable first novel that established Isabel Allende as one of the world’s most gifted and imaginative storytellers
The House of the Spirits brings to life the triumphs and tragedies of three generations of the Trueba family. The patriarch Esteban is a volatile, proud man whose voracious pursuit of political power is tempered only by his love for his delicate wife, Clara, a woman with a mystical connection to the spirit world. When their daughter Blanca embarks on a forbidden love affair in defiance of her implacable father, the result is an unexpected gift to Esteban: his adored granddaughter Alba, a beautiful and strong-willed child who will lead her family and her country into a revolutionary future.
One of the most important novels of the twentieth century, The House of the Spirits is an enthralling epic that spans decades and lives, weaving the personal and the political into a universal story of love, magic, and fate.
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"The characters are very interesting. The story is sometimes hard to listen to as it involves a lot of brutality but is certainly representative of some of the events that happened in Chile. The book is well read and the voices lend a lot of representation the characters. I really enjoyed it! "
— EJKH (5 out of 5 stars)
“Inventive, funny, and persuasive…a vivid, absorbing work of art. Her characters are fascinatingly detailed and human.”
— People“In its tumultuous story of rebellion and love among three generations, it is an allegory in which any family should be able to recognize a bit of itself.”
— Wall Street Journal“There are few trips more thrilling than those taken in the imagination of a brilliant novelist. That experience is available in The House of the Spirits.”
— Cosmopolitan“A unique achievement, both personal witness and possible allegory of the past, present, and future of Latin America.”
— New York Times Book Review“Both an engrossing narrative and an impassioned testimony to the people of Chile…Allende has her own distinctive voice [with] a whimsical charm…Richly and meticulously detailed.”
— Publishers Weekly“Allende is a talented writer who deftly uses the techniques of magical realism but also shows great sensitivity in the delineation of character.”
— Library Journal" This novel tells the story of four generations of a family and the political upheavals of Chile. It is also a story of love and pain and has mystic elements in it. Well narrated. "
— Rachel , 11/10/2023" Spiritually captivating...brings the reader into the Realms if the ANCIENTS. "
— A'O'POHAKUKU, 5/26/2020Isabel Allende is the author of a number of critically acclaimed books, including twelve novels that have made the New York Times bestsellers list. Her books have been translated into more than forty-two languages and have sold more than seventy-four million copies worldwide. She was born in Peru, raised in Chile, and lives in California.
Thom Rivera is a multiple Earphones Award–winning narrator. He is also a classically trained television, film, theater, and voice actor. He has toured nationally and performed at regional theatres and Shakespeare Festivals throughout the US. On television, he can be seen in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, New Girl, The Mindy Project, and the CBS series Zoo.
Marisol Ramirez is an audio narrator and actress who has appeared on numerous television shows, including ER, The Mentalist, Without a Trace, and Dallas. Among her film credits are Right at Your Door and Just Cause.