My Name Is Emilia del Valle

Books | Fiction / Literary

Isabel Allende

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • In this “stunning” (People), “riveting” (Entertainment Weekly) historical novel, a young writer journeys to South America to uncover the truth about her father—and herself.“All of Allende’s books, My Name Is Emilia del Valle included, have the epic feel of a major Hollywood film.”—Associated PressIn San Francisco in 1866, an Irish nun, abandoned following a torrid relationship with a Chilean aristocrat, gives birth to a daughter named Emilia del Valle. Raised by a loving stepfather, Emilia grows into an independent thinker and a self-sufficient young woman.To pursue her passion for writing, she is willing to defy societal norms. At the age of seventeen, she begins to publish pulp fiction using a man’s pen name. When these fictional worlds can no longer satisfy her sense of adventure, she turns to journalism, convincing an editor at The Daily Examiner to hire her. There she is paired with another talented reporter, Eric Whelan.As she proves herself, her restlessness returns, until an opportunity arises to cover a brewing civil war in Chile. She seizes it, as does Eric, and while there, she meets her estranged father and delves into the violent confrontation in the country where her roots lie. As she and Eric discover love, the war escalates and Emilia finds herself in extreme danger, fearing for her life and questioning her identity and her destiny.A riveting tale of self-discovery and love from one of the most masterful storytellers of our time, My Name Is Emilia del Valle introduces a character who will never let hold of your heart.

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More Details:

Author

Isabel Allende

Pages

304

Publisher

Random House

Published Date

2025-05-06

ISBN

059397509X 9780593975091

Community ReviewsSee all

"3.5 stars I've never read any of Isabel Allende's works before, but I can see why they are so renowned. My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende is a historical fiction novel about the larger than life titular character during the setting of the Chilean civil war in the late 1800s. I've been on a good streak of reading stories about history that I don't know anything about, and this book was no different. The parts about the devastating losses incurred in the war are told in a poignant and genuine way, detailing the very real horrors of war, even if it's not experienced by a soldier on the field. Emilia del Valle is certainly larger than life. Aside from being a bestselling dime author under a male pseudonym, she is also an accomplished female journalist, neither of which have been heard of in her time. However, at certain points of the story, especially toward the end, her character teeters on the edge of incredulous, especially when it comes to certain decisions she makes. To be honest, I was more interested in the coverage of the war than the personal details in Emilia's life, but I understand how it's necessary to give her story a satisfying ending. Again, it's no wonder why Isabel Allende is known for her beautiful and lyrical writing just based on this book alone. So if you are a fan of hers, or if you aren't yet, this is a good pick. Special thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. My Name Is Emilia del Valle is available everywhere now."

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Amber Smith