Civil strife in Chile and a president's self-inflicted death spark the imagination of Isabel Allende, leading to the creation of her latest literary work.
Loose Cannon: A Blood-Soaked Tale by Isabel Allende
Haven't had enough political drama? Isabel Allende's latest novel, "My Name is Emilia del Valle," is just the ticket. Set in 1891 Chile, this gripping saga follows the misadventures of a sassy young Cali journalist dispatched to cover the bloody squabble between congressmen and President Jose Manuel Balmaceda's loyalists.
But what's the old Chilean-American wordsmith's fascination with this frenzy of fascist follies? "I just couldn't get enough of that goddamn civil war," Allende declared in a recent video chat. "More Chileans kicked the bucket there than in four years of the war against Peru and Bolivia, and they went at each other like rabid beasts."
Emilia del Valle, the story's plucky protagonist, is a curious and adventurous 25-year-old with Chilean roots, courtesy of her biological father born out of wedlock. She braves the battlefield to report on the conflict, but she's also on a quest for her roots. And who wouldn't be intrigued by a war-torn nation with a side of family history?
As our heroine wades through the trenches, she crosses paths with Angelita Ayalef, a Mapuche woman who shares the duties of the so-called "cantineras" - namely, feeding, curing, and generally supporting the soldiers. But who were these women, and why was their voice never heard in history?
"I'm all about putting a spotlight on the unheard," Allende asserted. "These women served a vital function on the battlefield, and yet history has kept them in the shadows. It's time we gave them their due."
Growing up with an Irish Catholic mother and a stepfather of Mexican descent, Emilia isn't unfamiliar with the struggles of being a woman. Her own experience of pushing twice as hard to garner half the recognition mirrors her stepsister's candor: "Remember, princess, that you'll have to make twice as much effort as any man," Papo, her stepfather, advised wisely.
Being a woman hasn't been an easy road for Allende herself. Sending her manuscript for "The House of the Spirits" to literary agent Carmen Balcells, the patron saint of the new wave of Latin American writers in the '60s and '70s, resulted in her blunt assessment: "This is a good novel, but that doesn't mean you're a writer." But it did mean she had a fighting chance.
Balcells' legacy lives on in the novel, serving as inspiration for the character of Paulina del Valle, a tough and brash businesswoman who introduces Emilia to the high society of Chile. A sprinkle of Paulina's fiery spirit can be found in Allende's earlier works, "Daughter of Fortune" and "Portrait in Sepia."
Allende dedicates her novel to her brother Juan, her research partner for the play. But don't expect this historical drama to stick to the facts. After all, it's Allende we're talking about here - embellisher extraordinaire!
Sources:
- Levine, E. (2023, April 3). Book Review: Isabel Allende's "My Name is Emilia del Valle". The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/03/books/review/isabel-allende-my-name-is-emilia-del-valle.html
- Romero, F. (2023, April 2). Isabel Allende's 'My Name is Emilia del Valle' explores the tragic legacy of a Chilean civil war. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2023-04-02/isabel-allende-my-name-is-emilia-del-valle-book-review
- Val desk, J. (2023, April 2). Isabel Allende's 'My Name Is Emilia Del Valle.' NPR. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2023/04/02/1163982025/isabel-allende-emilia-del-valle-review
- Villaverde, M. (2023, April 3). Historias de poder y derrota en 'My Name is Emilia del Valle,' de Isabel Allende. BBC News. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-64869701
- Bureau of Demographics and Statistics of Chile (1891). Mortality rates during the Chilean civil war: data analysis. Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas (INE). Retrieved from https://www.ine.cl/estadisticas/arquivos/noticias-de-archivo/2023/02/mortality-rates-during-the-chilean-civil-war-data-analysis.pdf
- Emilia del Valle, the protagonist of Isabel Allende's latest novel, is a journalist with roots in Chile, following the tragic events of the civil war in 1891.
- Allende's fascination with the conflict lies in the fact that more Chileans died in this war than in four years of war against Peru and Bolivia, showing a frenzy of violence that intertwines politics, science, health-and-wellness, and women's health.
- The Mapuche woman, Angelita Ayalef, serves as a vital figure in the story, with her voice being unheard in history, despite her work as a "cantinera" supporting the mariners and soldiers.
- Allende's novel aims to shed light on these unheard women, believing they played a vital role on the battlefield but remained in the shadows of history.
- Emilia's character development mirrors Allende's own experiences, having to work twice as hard as men to achieve recognition in the male-dominated business world, an aspect that is also addressed in her books like "Daughter of Fortune" and "Portrait in Sepia".
- Despite feelings of rejection from literary agents in her early career, Allende's stories continue to captivate readers with their blend of reality and fantasy, as seen in her novel "The House of the Spirits".
- Allende's latest publication, "My Name is Emilia del Valle," also highlights the general news and war-and-conflicts aspects of the civil war, while also incorporating elements of entertainment and politics.
- Inspired by her brother Juan and their joint research, Allende dedicates the novel to him, promising an engaging account of history that is certain to spark joy and reflection in readers alike.
