My Name Is Emilia del Valle: A Novel
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 Press
In 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.
“All of Allende’s books, My Name Is Emilia del Valle included, have the epic feel of a major Hollywood film.”—Associated Press
In 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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Community Reviews
Allende has created another magnificent lead character in Emilia del Valle. The story begins in the 1860s when Emilia’s mother Molly falls under the spell of a wealthy Chilean gad. Her dream of a life in service to God is crushed when she becomes pregnant and is set adrift by the church. She finds a safe harbor at a school where she had taught in San Francisco’s Mission District. Eventually, she marries the founder, a wonderful and erudite man. He plays a role in rearing Emilia to become a strong, educated female, but Emilia knows her strength and tenacity comes from her melodramatic mother.
When Emilia conceives of writing dime novels, it becomes a family affair. Her mother helps with plots—the gorier and bloodier the details, the better—and her Papo handles editing and delivery for publication. This family enterprise turns out to be Emilia’s steppingstone into journalism. Her inherited tenacity helps her land a job with The Daily Examiner, and the world opens to her. After proving herself, she is allowed to travel to Chile with another reporter to cover civil unrest that will lead to a bloody civil war. It is on this trip that Emilia will discover herself and her future.
Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group—Ballantine and NetGalley for providing this e-galley.
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