A Long Petal of the Sea

by Isabel Allende
A Long Petal of the Sea cover
Good Books rating 4.38
Historical Fiction
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Paperback • £9.99
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  • ID: 1327
  • Added: 2025-10-04
  • Updated: 2025-10-17
  • ISBN: 9781526633958
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
  • Published: 2020-11-12
  • Formats: 7
  • Reviews: 4

A Long Petal of the Sea is a masterful work of historical fiction by Isabel Allende, spanning the Spanish Civil War to the rise and fall of Pinochet. It tells the story of Victor Dalmau, a young doctor, and his sister-in-law Roser, who are forced into exile in Chile, where they encounter a rich tapestry of characters and historical events. The novel explores themes of hope, exile, and belonging, set against the backdrop of political upheaval and personal resilience. Allende's signature style blends intimate personal narratives with grand historical scope, creating a deeply moving and immersive reading experience.

Reviews
the starving artist · Devontre Varro Flaherty · 2024-03-11
engaging 4.00

The novel is a great piece of historical fiction based on Allende's family history, blending personal and historical narratives seamlessly.

They enjoyed the novel for its rich historical context and personal storytelling, finding it to be a great example of historical fiction. The reviewer appreciates how Allende intertwines her family history with broader historical events, creating a narrative that is both intimate and expansive. They highlight the novel's ability to capture the complexities of human experiences during turbulent times.

Quick quotes

    A Long Petal of the Sea is based on Allende's family history and is definitely historical fiction—great historical fiction that I enjoyed.

    The novel blends personal and historical narratives seamlessly.

    A rich and engaging exploration of historical events through a personal lens.

Judith McKinnon's Blog · Judith McKinnon · 2021-02-19
stunning 4.75

The book handles terrible historical scenes with a lightness of touch, making them real and impactful without being overwhelming.

They were struck by the novel's ability to tackle grim historical events with a lightness of touch, making the scenes real and impactful without being overwhelming. The reviewer finds the storytelling compelling and the characters deeply affecting, highlighting the novel's emotional depth and historical significance. They appreciate how Allende balances the heavy themes with moments of hope and resilience.

Quick quotes

    This is such a stunning book, handling some really terrible scenes from history with a lightness of touch but still making them real.

    The storytelling is compelling and the characters deeply affecting.

    A balance of heavy themes with moments of hope and resilience.

The New York Times · 2020-01-20
poignant 4.25

The novel explores the lives of exiles with sensitivity and depth, making it a poignant and thought-provoking read. The historical context is well-researched and vividly brought to life.

The reviewer found the novel to be a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of exile and displacement. They praised Allende's ability to bring historical events to life with sensitivity and depth, making the characters' struggles feel real and relatable. The reviewer appreciated the well-researched historical context, which adds richness to the narrative. Overall, they found the book to be a compelling and emotionally resonant read.

Quick quotes

    Based on true events around the Spanish Civil War, Allende's novel 'A Long Petal of the Sea' explores the lives of exiles.

    The novel is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of exile and displacement.

    Allende's ability to bring historical events to life with sensitivity and depth is commendable.

The Guardian · 2020-01-16
profound 4.50

The novel effectively numbs the horrifying moments of historical events while maintaining a profound emotional impact. The story is both heartbreaking and hopeful, capturing the essence of exile and resilience.

The reviewer appreciates how the novel handles the grim realities of historical events with a certain numbing effect, making the horrifying moments bearable yet impactful. They highlight the novel's ability to weave together heartbreak and hope, creating a story that resonates deeply with themes of exile and resilience. The reviewer finds the characters' journeys compelling and the historical backdrop richly detailed, making it a poignant read.

Quick quotes

    It numbs horrifying moments, such as the long march of refugees from Spain to France, or the atrocities of the concentration camps.

    The novel is both heartbreaking and hopeful.

    A profound and resonant story of exile and resilience.

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