Draw my Life de Isabel Allende | Biografía de Isabel Allende

Summary

Isabel Allende, born on August 2, 1942, in Lima, is a Chilean-American author with Spanish and Portuguese ancestry. Her father, Salvador Allende, was the President of Chile from 1970 to 1973. After her parents' separation, Isabel moved to Chile at the age of three, where she later married and had two children. Following the 1973 coup against her father, she and her family went into exile in Venezuela until 1988. Allende's writing career began with articles and children's stories, leading to her first novel, 'The House of the Spirits,' which became a bestseller and was adapted into a film. Her second novel, 'Of Love and Shadows,' was also a success and made into a movie. She has written several other novels, including 'Paula,' an autobiographical work inspired by the tragic death of her daughter. In 1990, she returned to Chile with the restoration of democracy and was honored with the Order of Merit Teaching and Cultural in 1992. Allende has received numerous awards, including the National Prize for Literature in Chile and the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Literature. Her writing often involves humor and is known for its magical storytelling. She has also ventured into historical fiction and the police novel genre, with works like 'Inés of My Soul' and 'Island Beneath the Sea.' Her literature is part of the 'Latin American Boom' or 'New Latin American Literature,' characterized by a return to realism.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Isabel Allende was born in Lima, Peru, on August 2, 1942, and holds Chilean and American nationalities, with Spanish and Portuguese ancestry.
• 👨‍🦳 Her father, Salvador Allende, was the President of Chile from 1970 to 1973, which influenced her early life and background.
• 👶 In 1945, after her parents' separation, Isabel moved to Chile with her mother and siblings at the age of three.
• 💑 In 1959, Isabel married Miguel Frías and had two children, Paula and Nicolás. However, due to the 1973 coup against her father, she went into exile with her family in Venezuela in 1975.
• 📚 She worked for the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization in Chile from 1959 to 1965 and later in Europe.
• 🎭 Allende began her career as a writer with contributions to various magazines and children's literature, and also ventured into theater.
• 📖 Her first and most famous novel, 'The House of the Spirits,' was born from a letter she started writing to her grandmother in 1981 and was later adapted into a film.
• 🏆 The novel has sold over 51 million copies and has been translated into more than 27 languages, establishing Allende's literary reputation.
• 📝 After the tragic death of her daughter Paula, Allende wrote an autobiographical epistolary book titled 'Paula,' published in 1994.
• 🏆 She has received numerous accolades, including the Chilean National Literature Prize in 2010 and the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Prize for her storytelling abilities.
• 📚 Her works encompass a variety of genres, including historical novels like 'Inés del alma mía' and 'The Island Beneath the Sea,' as well as the young adult novel 'City of the Beasts' and a foray into mystery with 'The Reaper'.

Q & A

When and where was Isabel Allende born?

Isabel Allende was born on August 2, 1942, in Lima, Peru.

What is Isabel Allende's nationality and her ancestry?

Isabel Allende is Chilean by birth, holds United States nationality, and has Hispanic Portuguese ancestry.

Who was Isabel Allende's father and what was his role in Chile's history?

Isabel Allende's father was Salvador Allende, who served as the President of Chile from 1970 to 1973.

Why did Isabel Allende move to Chile at a young age?

Isabel Allende moved to Chile at the age of three because her mother remarried Ramón Huidobro, who was then posted in Bolivia.

What significant event in Chilean history led to Isabel Allende and her family leaving the country?

The military coup on September 11, 1973, against her father, and the subsequent arrival of the dictatorship in Chile, led to Isabel Allende and her family seeking exile.

In which country did Isabel Allende live in exile and for how long?

Isabel Allende lived in exile in Venezuela from 1975 to 1988.

What was the profession of Isabel Allende before she became a writer?

Before becoming a writer, Isabel Allende worked for the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization in Chile and later in Europe.

What was the inspiration behind her first novel, 'The House of the Spirits'?

The inspiration for 'The House of the Spirits' came from a letter Isabel Allende started writing to her grandmother in 1981.

How many copies of 'The House of the Spirits' have been sold, and in how many languages has it been translated?

Over 51 million copies of 'The House of the Spirits' have been sold, and it has been translated into more than 27 languages.

What personal tragedy did Isabel Allende experience that inspired her to write 'Paula'?

Isabel Allende's daughter Paula died at the age of 28 due to porphyria, which led to a coma. This painful experience inspired her to write 'Paula'.

What is the name of the foundation that Isabel Allende established in honor of her daughter, and for what purpose?

Isabel Allende established the Isabel Allende Foundation in honor of her daughter, who had worked as a volunteer in marginalized communities in Venezuela and Spain as an educator and psychologist.

What is the literary movement that Isabel Allende's work is often associated with?

Isabel Allende's work is often associated with the literary movement known as the 'Latin American Boom', although some scholars prefer to call it 'Newest Literature'.