Isabel Allende - Hispanic Women, Family and Childhood
Isabel Allende's Personal Details
The prolific writer is the author of award winning books such as 'Eva Luna' and ‘The House of Spirits'
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | August 2, 1942 |
| Nationality | Chilean, Peruvian, American |
| Famous | Hispanic Authors, Writers, Novelists, Hispanic Women |
| Spouses | Miguel Frías, Willie Gordon |
| Siblings | Francisco Allende Llona, Georgia Allende Llona, Juan Allende |
| Known as | Isabel Allende Llona, the world's most widely read Spanish-language author |
| Childrens | Nicolás Frías, Paula Frías Allende |
| Birth Place | Lima |
| Born Country | Peru |
| Height | 152 |
| Gender | Female |
| Father | Tomás Allende |
| Mother | Francisca Llona Barros |
| Net Worth | $44 Million as of February 8,2017 |
| Sun Sign | Leo |
| Born in | Lima |
| Famous as | Writer |
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Isabel Allende's photo
Who is Isabel Allende?
Chilean-American writer Isabel Allende is the prolific author of twenty books which have been translated into numerous languages and sold over 65 million copies. Her career has spanned three decades. In addition to writing novels, she has written short fiction, plays, and stories for children, as well as authored numerous articles in magazines and journals. She began her writing career as a journalist but became renowned after the publication of her first novel. Two of her novels have been made into feature films, with options to film three others in the works. Allende has been a highly influential voice in Latin American literature, often providing an important feminine perspective on the world. Her writing is generally characterized as "magical realism," a genre that combines realistic writing with surprising elements of magic and fantasy. Her work is sometimes compared to the work of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, a famous Colombian novelist known for his work in the magical realist genre. However, her voice is also considered distinct, with a style that blends concern for the inner, personal lives of her characters and their physical and political contexts. Her own exile from Chile has informed much of her writing through the years.
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Childhood & Early Life
Isabel Allende's was born Isabel Allende Llona, on 2nd August, 1942. Her father Tomas worked at the embassy in Chile and was the first cousin of Chilean president Salvador Allende. Salvador was president of Chile for three years.
Allende was one of three children. She and her mother and siblings moved from Peru to Santiago, Chile in 1945, when Allende was a little girl.
In the 1950s, Allende's mother remarried. Her stepfather, Ramon Huidobro, became the Chilean ambassador to Argentina when she was a teenager. Because of her stepfather's diplomatic career, her family moved often. Her education included private schooling and homeschooling.
Career
She began her career as a journalist. She was a co-founding editor of the women's magazine 'Paula.' From 1969-1973, she was an editor for a children's magazine. Around this time, she also authored two children's stories.
She began a decade of work in television journalism during the 1960s and eventually became a television host. While working in television, she interviewed famous poet Pablo Neruda.
Her first published book was a compilation of her journalistic articles. She also scripted the screenplay for, ‘El Embajador', produced in 1973.
After the government coup in Chile, she moved to Venezuela. She worked as a journalist and an administrator in a school there.
A letter to her ailing, elderly grandfather became the manuscript of her first novel. 'The House of Spirits' was published in 1982.
Many of her works have been adapted for film and stage. Her 1985 novel, 'Of Love and Shadows', was made into a feature film.
She has published twenty books. Her 1995 book titled 'Paula' is a memoir of her childhood and youth in Chile and her exile from that country, as well as a loving homage to her daughter.
A memoir of her more recent life was published in 2008. It is titled 'The Sum of Our Days'.
She is considered an influential modern voice in Latin American literature. Her work often features magical realism, and her writing has sometimes been compared to the writing of Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Major Works
The novel 'Eva Luna', published in 1987, draws on her experiences both in Chile and Venezuela. The story-telling protagonist lives in an anonymous South American country; some of tales appear in a later published collection of short stories called 'The Stories of Eva Luna'.
Awards & Achievements
Her first novel, ‘The House of Spirits’, was named book of the year in Chile for 1983.
In 1987, she was nominated for the ‘Los Angeles Times book Prize’. That same year, she won the ‘Premio Mulheres a la Mejor Novela Extranjera’ in Portugal.
In 1998, she won the ‘Dorothy and Lilian Gish Prize’ in the United States. This prize is given each year to someone who has contributed to ‘the beauty of the world’ and to our understanding of it.
Allende received the ‘Presidential Medal of Freedom’ in 2014. It was presented to her by President Barack Obama.
Personal Life & Legacy
She met and married her first husband, Miguel Frias, in Chile in 1962. The couple had two children, Paula and Nicolas.
When Pinochet came to power in Chile in 1973, she received threats and had to flee the country. That was when she moved to Venezuela.
She met and married her second husband, Willie Gordon, while visiting the United States in 1988. She eventually moved to the U.S., and currently lives in California, near her son and grandchildren.
Her daughter Paula died at the age of 29. She suffered from the disease porphyria and was in a coma for some time before her death, having suffered the ill effects of wrong medication.
In 1998, Allende founded the ‘Isabel Allende Foundation’ in memory of her daughter Paula, who had done humanitarian work in poor communities. The foundation supports programs that support the rights of women and children.
Trivia
Although she has an internationally renowned reputation for writing, this famous author has stated that she doesn't consider her books her greatest achievements. She considers her family and her time helping others to be more important.
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Isabel Allende biography timelines
- // 2nd Aug 1942Isabel Allende's was born Isabel Allende Llona, on 2nd August, 1942. Her father Tomas worked at the embassy in Chile and was the first cousin of Chilean president Salvador Allende. Salvador was president of Chile for three years.
- // 1945Allende was one of three children. She and her mother and siblings moved from Peru to Santiago, Chile in 1945, when Allende was a little girl.
- // 1962She met and married her first husband, Miguel Frias, in Chile in 1962. The couple had two children, Paula and Nicolas.
- // 1969 To 1973She began her career as a journalist. She was a co-founding editor of the women's magazine 'Paula.' From 1969-1973, she was an editor for a children's magazine. Around this time, she also authored two children's stories.
- // 1973Her first published book was a compilation of her journalistic articles. She also scripted the screenplay for, ‘El Embajador', produced in 1973.
- // 1973When Pinochet came to power in Chile in 1973, she received threats and had to flee the country. That was when she moved to Venezuela.
- // 1982A letter to her ailing, elderly grandfather became the manuscript of her first novel. 'The House of Spirits' was published in 1982.
- // 1983Her first novel, ‘The House of Spirits’, was named book of the year in Chile for 1983.
- // 1985Many of her works have been adapted for film and stage. Her 1985 novel, 'Of Love and Shadows', was made into a feature film.
- // 1987The novel 'Eva Luna', published in 1987, draws on her experiences both in Chile and Venezuela. The story-telling protagonist lives in an anonymous South American country; some of tales appear in a later published collection of short stories called 'The Stories of Eva Luna'.
- // 1987In 1987, she was nominated for the ‘Los Angeles Times book Prize’. That same year, she won the ‘Premio Mulheres a la Mejor Novela Extranjera’ in Portugal.
- // 1988She met and married her second husband, Willie Gordon, while visiting the United States in 1988. She eventually moved to the U.S., and currently lives in California, near her son and grandchildren.
- // 1995She has published twenty books. Her 1995 book titled 'Paula' is a memoir of her childhood and youth in Chile and her exile from that country, as well as a loving homage to her daughter.
- // 1998In 1998, she won the ‘Dorothy and Lilian Gish Prize’ in the United States. This prize is given each year to someone who has contributed to ‘the beauty of the world’ and to our understanding of it.
- // 1998In 1998, Allende founded the ‘Isabel Allende Foundation’ in memory of her daughter Paula, who had done humanitarian work in poor communities. The foundation supports programs that support the rights of women and children.
- // 2008A memoir of her more recent life was published in 2008. It is titled 'The Sum of Our Days'.
- // 2014Allende received the ‘Presidential Medal of Freedom’ in 2014. It was presented to her by President Barack Obama.
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Isabel Allende's FAQ
What is Isabel Allende birthday?
Isabel Allende was born at 1942-08-02
Where is Isabel Allende's birth place?
Isabel Allende was born in Lima
What is Isabel Allende nationalities?
Isabel Allende's nationalities is Chilean, Peruvian, American
Who is Isabel Allende spouses?
Isabel Allende's spouses is Miguel Frías, Willie Gordon
Who is Isabel Allende siblings?
Isabel Allende's siblings is Francisco Allende Llona, Georgia Allende Llona, Juan Allende
Who is Isabel Allende childrens?
Isabel Allende's childrens is Nicolás Frías, Paula Frías Allende
How tall is Isabel Allende?
Isabel Allende's height is 152
Who is Isabel Allende's father?
Isabel Allende's father is Tomás Allende
Who is Isabel Allende's mother?
Isabel Allende's mother is Francisca Llona Barros
What is Isabel Allende's sun sign?
Isabel Allende is Leo
How famous is Isabel Allende?
Isabel Allende is famouse as Writer