Ines of My Soul

The vibrant new novel from Isabel Allende takes her back to her homeland of Chile, and tells the story of the first Spanish woman to arrive on its shores with the Conquistadors in the 1500s.

A real historical figure, Ines Suarez came to Chile with the Conquistadors in 1540, helping to claim the territory for Spain and to found the first Spanish settlement in Santiago. In this remarkable novel, Isabel Allende -- one of the world's most spellbinding storytellers -- re-imagines Ines's life and that of the two men who become her lover and husband respectively. 'Ines of My Soul' evokes the conflict and drama of the Conquistadors' arrival in Chile, as well as helping restore the reputation of Ines, a powerful woman long neglected by history and a patriarchal society. It also finds Allende returning to territory beloved of her and her readers -- imaginative historical fiction, evocatively told -- and to the familiar landscape of her native country. The novel gives Ines the recognition and glory that are rightfully hers; but more than that it is an epic tale of love and conquest, lyrically written and enchantingly told by a writer at the peak of her powers.

“Allende…has written her surest work since THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS.” — USA Today
“Allende is a master storyteller at the peak of her powers, as she demonstrates in her latest novel.” — Los Angeles Times
“Allende’s imagination delivers the enchantment. . . . This is one work Allende fans should not miss.” — Miami Herald
“Vivid…Allende’s reach is broad…Allende succeeds in resurrecting a woman from history and endowing her with the gravitas of a hero.” — New York Times Book Review
“A powerfully evocative narrative...Allende is at her best here.” — Newsweek
“Thoroughly researched…a colorful, entertaining tale of the hardscrabble adventures and desperate deeds of some of our hemisphere’s first Europeans” — Elle
“Solid and well-constructed...Ines is rescued by Allende from history’s dust bin.” — San Francisco Chronicle
“Allende’s keen intelligence and lively prose keep readers wishing for more.” — San Diego Union-Tribune
“Might be Allende’s best novel, better even than THE HOUSE OF SPIRITS.” — Boston Globe
“Vivid and convincing….” — Jonathan Yardley, Washington Post
“Well-grounded...As always, Allende focuses on the story.” — Atlantic Monthly
“Compelling...a complex and truly rich tale” — Baltimore Sun
“earthy and ironic.” — New York Times
“Thrilling epic...the memoir she ascribes to Ines promotes a more democratic view of how the New World was settled.” — Philadelphia Inquirer
“Riveting...A colorful and clear-eyed portrait...Suarez’s story is so fabulous and life-affirming…that it simply captivates” — Chicago Sun-Times
“Allende has given [Ines] an instantly appealing voice...even the most unpliable reader will be hooked.” — Minneapolis Star Tribune
“A thourough and unflinching account…Allende...keeps the pages turning. It’s a joy to see Ines triumph.” — Rocky Mountain News
“Ines of My Soul is a powerful novel...[Ines] is, in Allende’s skilled hands, a wholly human character.” — Charlotte Observer
“An elegant work of historical fiction.” — Wichita Eagle
“engrossing…Fans of Allende’s earlier novels will…find enjoyment in INES OF MY SOUL.” — Christian Science Monitor
“Brilliant…A beautifully crafted work by one of the finest writers of our time.” — Providence Journal
“Ines of My Soul is an absorbing and illuminating book.” — The Globe and Mail
“Meticulously researched.” — Library Journal
“Allende crafts a swift, thrilling epic, packed with fierce battles and passionate romance.” — Publishers Weekly
“Fiction about the conquistador experience…can’t possibly get better” — Booklist (starred review)
“Allende always delivers. This time it’s with an enchanting historical fiction about Chile.” — American Way
“A master storyteller.” — San Francisco Chronicle
“Allende is a genius.” — Los Angeles Times Book Review
“Possesses the eyes, ears, mind, heart and pluck to manufacture generous and feisty fiction.” — Miami Herald
“Surely one of the most graceful and yet haunting writers alive.” — St. Louis Post-Dispatch

This magisterial work of historical fiction recounts the astonishing life of Inés Suárez, a daring Spanish conquistadora who toiled to build the nation of Chile—and whose vital role has too often been neglected by history.
It is the beginning of the Spanish conquest of the Americas, and when Inés’s shiftless husband disappears to the New World, she uses the opportunity to search for him as an excuse to flee her stifling homeland and seek adventure. After a treacherous journey to Peru, she learns of his death in battle. She meets and begins a passionate love affair with a man who seeks only honor and glory: Pedro Valdivia, war hero and field marshal to the famed Francisco Pizarro. Together, Inés and Valdivia will build the new city of Santiago and wage a ruthless war against the indigenous Chileans. The horrific struggle will change them forever, pulling each toward their separate destinies.
Inés of My Soul is a work of breathtaking scope, written with the narrative brilliance and passion readers have come to expect from Isabel Allende.