Article contributed by Laura Glassman
An epic story of characters who must flee Spain following the revolution and make a life with each other in a politically turbulent Chile, A Long Petal of the Sea draws readers into its imaginative story from the start. Isabel Allende has written a number of fascinating books telling stories about different parts of the world and varied types of characters; A Long Petal of the Sea is no exception.
At the heart of this story are Victor and Roser, who form an unconventional partnership as a means of escaping Spain which has been overtaken by Franco and fascism. Roser initially falls in love while in Spain with Victor’s brother Guillem, who is a part of the resistance effort, however he dies in the war. She becomes pregnant with his child. Meanwhile, conditions in Spain become untenable. The famous poet Pablo Neruda decides to sponsor a ship filled with refugees from Spain in order to help them immigrate to Chile and escape Franco’s fascist government. As it will only be possible for them to flee Spain on this ship as a married couple, Victor and Roser decide to marry out of practicality, however their arrangement is an unusual one. They begin to make a life in Chile and to figure out how to find a sense of home and family elsewhere.
A Long Petal of the Sea is rich in historical detail throughout. We learn of how the Nazis were coming to power and the Spanish revolution was underway. Readers will come to feel what it was like to live in Spain during the war and then to make a journey away from their home country as a refugee. Many thousands of Spanish refugees died in the French detention camps, and it not hard to draw comparisons between the people portrayed in the novel and the plight of many groups of present-day refugees. Allende later describes political events of that time period in Chile, when Salvador Allende became president and then was ousted via military coup. Isabel Allende paints a fascinating portrayal of what it was like to live in those times and to experience those historical events, and this portrayal of historical events is the book’s greatest strength.
Though there are a number of interesting characters populating this novel, there is some sense of distance between the reader and the characters; the focus of this book is more on the historical context of their lives. Victor and Roser have a compelling though highly unconventional relationship. Though it began as a marriage of convenience and practicality, it turns into a genuinely loving and respectful companionship as the story goes on. Each at one time has not-so-secret relationships outside of their marriage, knowing full well that the marriage was a partnership of sorts and not a typical marriage. However, their love for each other grows and those other partnerships are not lasting. Although Victor and Roser’s relationship is intriguing, there is a sense of disconnect between reader and characters; the writing feels a bit detached. Many side characters bring an interesting side to the story. For instance, the famous poet Pablo Neruda’s appearance in the story as a man who helps to save refugees and then must flee Chile himself is particularly interesting.
The prose of this novel is soulful, wise, and richly atmospheric, as is often characteristic of Allende’s work. The language in scenes such as the one where the Spanish refugees land in Valparaiso is beautiful and will make readers imagine what it felt like to the refugees to arrive on Chilean shores. Allende’s description of her character’s feelings and stories is filled with wisdom.
Isabel Allende is a masterful storyteller, and there is much to like about this book. However, if you are new to Isabel Allende’s writing, you may prefer to begin with another book, such as The House of the Spirits. This book is heavier on historical detail and somewhat drier than some of her other works, though the story is interesting. If you already know and love Allende, you are likely to enjoy this book and its rich descriptions of life in Spain and Chile, and its fascinating and unusual cast of characters.
A Long Petal of the Sea is about finding home and family in unexpected places. Isabel Allende based this book on the true story of a friend who immigrated from Spain to Chile and it is evident that this is a story that comes from the heart. Fans of Allende’s other works, particularly her older, more historical fiction-oriented works, will be sure to enjoy A Long Petal of the Sea for its exploration of historical events and for the soulful way that she tells the story of her main characters.
A Long Petal of the Sea is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
From the New York Times bestselling author of The House of the Spirits comes an epic novel spanning decades and crossing continents, following two young people as they flee the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War in search of a new place to call home.
In the late 1930s, civil war gripped Spain. When General Franco and his Fascists succeed in overthrowing the government, hundreds of thousands are forced to flee in a treacherous journey over the mountains to the French border. Among them is Roser, a pregnant young widow, who finds her life irreversibly intertwined with that of Victor Dalmau, an army doctor and the brother of her deceased love. In order to survive, the two must unite in a marriage neither of them wants, and together are sponsored by poet Pablo Neruda to embark on the SS Winnipeg along with 2,200 other refugees in search of a new life. As unlikely partners, they embrace exile and emigrate to Chile as the rest of Europe erupts in World War.
Starting over on a new continent, their trials are just beginning. Over the course of their lives, they will face test after test. But they will also find joy as they wait patiently for a day when they are exiles no more, and will find friends in the most unlikely of places. Through it all, it is that hope of being reunited with their home that keeps them going. And in the end, they will find that home might have been closer than they thought all along.
