Helpful Score: 2
Not my favorite work of hers, but a readable, interesting work of historical fiction about the common law wife of the conquistador of Chile.
Helpful Score: 2
Allende undoubtedly is a superb writer, but I couldn't warm up to Ines.
Really liked this book. Ines is a very strong women and inspiring
Based on the Spanish Conquest of Peru, this is a historical fiction by Isabel Allende. The story is told through the eyes of Ines who was originally a seamstress but adventures to the new world in search of her husband. It is interestig that Allende never seems to take sides, but takes a unvarnished view of this bloody time in America's history. It was a great read.
A delightful account of the life of the daring Spanish men and women who built the naation of Chile. A must read.
Great historical account. maybe not exact, but detailed and interesting
Close to death, Ines Suarez tells her life story to her daughter in this historical novel of the sixteenth century. It begins as Ines searches for her husband in the Americas believing that he has left Spain. Then she meets Pedro de Valdivia, a war war hero and field marshal for Francisco Pizarro, who wants to conquer new territories. He focuses on Chile, which has eluded other Spanish soldiers. And, the lovers do conquer Chile but they encounter obstacle after obstacle yet finally succeed, managing also to create the city of Santiago.
In short, the book depicts the colonization of Chile by the Spaniards as led by Valdivia. His fiery romance with Ines is portrayed with their very human ambitions, faults, and passions adding another dimension to this historical undertaking.
The story is emotional ride. It describes the difficult early years when Ines lived in Spain followed by her search for her first husband in Peru and Chile. Later meeting Valdivia, the lovers found Santiago but her affair with Valdivia gradually fades. Life in Santiago goes on finding her with other lovers. A passionate tale, it written with historical and lavish detail about the country and its natives. It's a fascinating read
In short, the book depicts the colonization of Chile by the Spaniards as led by Valdivia. His fiery romance with Ines is portrayed with their very human ambitions, faults, and passions adding another dimension to this historical undertaking.
The story is emotional ride. It describes the difficult early years when Ines lived in Spain followed by her search for her first husband in Peru and Chile. Later meeting Valdivia, the lovers found Santiago but her affair with Valdivia gradually fades. Life in Santiago goes on finding her with other lovers. A passionate tale, it written with historical and lavish detail about the country and its natives. It's a fascinating read
This was a very interesting and engrossing historical novel about the founding of Chile in the Sixteenth Century. It is told from the point of view of Inés Suárez who was instrumental in the conquest and settlement of Chile along with her lover, Pedro de Valdivia.
Allende uses the device of writing this memoir in Ines' old age as a record for her adopted daughter. She gives a very encompassing history of the conquest of Chile including the cruelty of the Spanish towards the native Indians. The driving force behind the conquest was the pursuit of gold and land, and the enslavement of the natives to work the land. Although Ines was against cruelty to the natives, she describes many instances of the horrors they endured at the hands of the Spanish. One passage notes that an admiral and his crew "sailed to a remote inlet where his sailors were welcomed with food and gifts by friendly Indians, whom the Spaniards rewarded by raping the women, killing many of the men, and capturing others they took in chains to Concepcion, where they exhibited them like animals in a fair." This is one of the more mild descriptions...others included decapitations and dismemberment of uncooperative natives. The Indians of Chile, the Mapuche, did not give in easily to the Spaniards, unlike the Inca and Aztecs. They were at constant war with them for decades. Although war with the Indians were a constant threat, Ines was a friend to the native poor and helped them out by establishing hospitals and soup kitchens.
Overall, this was a real education for me. I knew practically nothing about the history of Chile and its conquest. This novel definitely fills in the gaps. Allende states in her author's note: "This novel is a work of intuition, but any similarity to events and persons relating to the conquest of Chile is not coincidental". A real eye-opener!
Allende uses the device of writing this memoir in Ines' old age as a record for her adopted daughter. She gives a very encompassing history of the conquest of Chile including the cruelty of the Spanish towards the native Indians. The driving force behind the conquest was the pursuit of gold and land, and the enslavement of the natives to work the land. Although Ines was against cruelty to the natives, she describes many instances of the horrors they endured at the hands of the Spanish. One passage notes that an admiral and his crew "sailed to a remote inlet where his sailors were welcomed with food and gifts by friendly Indians, whom the Spaniards rewarded by raping the women, killing many of the men, and capturing others they took in chains to Concepcion, where they exhibited them like animals in a fair." This is one of the more mild descriptions...others included decapitations and dismemberment of uncooperative natives. The Indians of Chile, the Mapuche, did not give in easily to the Spaniards, unlike the Inca and Aztecs. They were at constant war with them for decades. Although war with the Indians were a constant threat, Ines was a friend to the native poor and helped them out by establishing hospitals and soup kitchens.
Overall, this was a real education for me. I knew practically nothing about the history of Chile and its conquest. This novel definitely fills in the gaps. Allende states in her author's note: "This novel is a work of intuition, but any similarity to events and persons relating to the conquest of Chile is not coincidental". A real eye-opener!
Allende brings the 16th century to life in this engrossing historical novel about Ines Suarez, a lowly seamstress from Spain who improbably became a key figure in the conquest of Chile. Passionately told, engrossing and vividly detailed.
I really enjoyed this book and Isabel Allende is one of my favorite authors. This is the story of a brave Spanish woman and her decision to journey to the New World during the time of the Spanish conquest of Peru and Chili. It is a wonderful and exciting story of the founding colonists in Chili and the leadership of Ines Suarez in this amazing adventure of conquest and settlement. I would recommend it to anyone. Genny
I have enjoyed all her books. Very historically accurate.
