Daughter of Fortune
3 journalers for this copy...
Synopsis
The international No.1 bestselling novelist returns to her best form with this magnificent sweeping tale. Isabel Allende's best novel since The House of the Spirits. Set in Anglophile Chile and goldrush California during the middle years of the nineteenth century, this magnificent romance tells the story of English foundling Eliza Sommers who grows up in the bustling entrepot of Valparaiso. Eliza is a spirited, sparky and ambitious romantic who becomes embroiled in a forbidden love affair with the charismatic but capricious Joaquin Andieta. When he disappears suddenly for California, and the promise of riches that rumours of gold strikes have brought him, she can but follow after him...
Sending to my NSSEB.
The international No.1 bestselling novelist returns to her best form with this magnificent sweeping tale. Isabel Allende's best novel since The House of the Spirits. Set in Anglophile Chile and goldrush California during the middle years of the nineteenth century, this magnificent romance tells the story of English foundling Eliza Sommers who grows up in the bustling entrepot of Valparaiso. Eliza is a spirited, sparky and ambitious romantic who becomes embroiled in a forbidden love affair with the charismatic but capricious Joaquin Andieta. When he disappears suddenly for California, and the promise of riches that rumours of gold strikes have brought him, she can but follow after him...
Sending to my NSSEB.
Pre-numbered label used for registration.
Received as part of my NSSEB 2006 package. Thank you!
:-)
:-)
This is the second Allende book I've read, and on the whole I enjoyed this book.
It centres round Eliza Sommers who was adopted by Rose Sommers, an Englishwoman living in Chile with her two brothers. Eliza was left abandoned on the Sommers' doorstep, and Rose treated her like the daughter she could never have, teaching her the ways of an English lady. Eliza, however, also enjoys the experience of the Chilean servants in the house and grows up to be a well rounded, complicated individual with many skills.
At 16 Eliza falls in love with one of her uncle's employees, who abandons her for a new life in California at the height of the gold rush. Eliza decides to follow her lover, and stows-away in the hold of a ship bound for the new American state. What follows is an interesting narrative of Eliza's new life in a land full of bandits and unscrupulous miners.
Allende has a lovely way of writing, however it can seem a little flat in places (though whether this is due to the translation from the original Spanish, I'm not sure). It also smacks a little of Gabriel García Márquez's Love in the Time of Cholera with a very similar setting and theme. However, it was a good read and a good choice for a holiday chill-out book!
It centres round Eliza Sommers who was adopted by Rose Sommers, an Englishwoman living in Chile with her two brothers. Eliza was left abandoned on the Sommers' doorstep, and Rose treated her like the daughter she could never have, teaching her the ways of an English lady. Eliza, however, also enjoys the experience of the Chilean servants in the house and grows up to be a well rounded, complicated individual with many skills.
At 16 Eliza falls in love with one of her uncle's employees, who abandons her for a new life in California at the height of the gold rush. Eliza decides to follow her lover, and stows-away in the hold of a ship bound for the new American state. What follows is an interesting narrative of Eliza's new life in a land full of bandits and unscrupulous miners.
Allende has a lovely way of writing, however it can seem a little flat in places (though whether this is due to the translation from the original Spanish, I'm not sure). It also smacks a little of Gabriel García Márquez's Love in the Time of Cholera with a very similar setting and theme. However, it was a good read and a good choice for a holiday chill-out book!
Bought this book from the lovely Catching Lives bookshop in Canterbury (http://www.catchinglives.org/catching-lives-bookshop/). It was one of a number of 'mystery' books they are selling, wrapped in brown paper with just a few words written on the front as clues to what the book inside is about. This book was described with '1830s', 'Chile', Adoption', 'Love' and 'Adventure Story'. I have not heard of this book before but was excited when I opened the cover and saw the book crossing sticker! I will aim to read it soon and then of course pass it on. Will post back here when I have finished :)
