The diminutive, in terms of land mass (756, 102 km squared) and population (some 17.5 million), yet robust and loud in terms of culture and intense and earnest emotion, the country of Chile is an often forgotten utopia, as far as the world at large is concerned.

Certainly, in Australia where I live, Chile never gets so much as a whiff of a mention in the news. A news cycle where we are bombarded with what (even seemingly minor) events have taken place in America, and to a lesser extent the United Kingdom and Europe.

Yet Chile, the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antartica, shines with undeniably radiant beauty (in terms of it’s environment and people) and it’s citizens show ardent fervour for this sometimes misunderstood (by those in the West) country.

Thus it was a great joy for me to read iconic Chilean (she was born in Peru, grew up in Chile and now lives in the United States) author, Isabel Allende’s, latest soaring and highly informative historical novel set in Chile, My Name is Emilia Del Valle.

Born in 1866, Emilia del Valle Claro, was born and raised in the poor but fiercely proud Mission District of San Francisco, the United States. Emilia’s mother, Molly, was descended from Irish immigrants and was training to be a nun when she got pregnant with Emilia by a one-time liaison with the Chilean aristocrat of sorts, Gonzalo Andres de Valle, when he was visiting San Francisco from the remote confines of his beloved Chile.

Chance would have it that Molly was working at a school, Aztec Pride, in San Franciso, where Spanish was the language of choice for the lessons to be presented in. Here Molly worked with “The school’s founder, director, and only teacher until Molly’s arrival…a mestizo man from Chihuahua named Francisco Claro, known by everyone as don Pancho”.

A scholar and a gentleman, don Pancho offers to marry Molly, and thus don Pancho becomes Emilia’s much-loved and adored step-father (Molly and don Pancho go on to have sons together).

Emilia goes to school at Aztec Pride, speaking Spanish early on, before learning English. Feisty and fiercely independent (a novelty at that time for a woman), Emilia begins to write “dime novels” (something rarely done by females in that era) under the name Brandon J. Price, as a novel by a woman wouldn’t have sold in America at that time in history.

Emilia reflects, “In the dime novels I found an outlet for my desire to explore beyond my limited reality. Through writing I could go anywhere and do anything I wanted. My Papo tried to help me, but, curiously, it was my mother who imagined the plot of my first book: A young woman is ravaged by a band of heartless criminals who end up paying for the misdeed with their lives”.

Emilia’s novels are a fly-away success, published in Spanish and English, and Emilia finds in herself the courage (that has been hidden in her all along) to apply for a job (again this was outside the normal protocols at that time where women generally did not work for money and focused on domestic duties such as marriage, child-rearing and housework) as a columnist with the influential newspaper, The Daily Examiner, when she is twenty-three.

The Editor in chief, Mr Chamberlain, is initially sceptical of hiring a woman, yet with Emilia’s persistence, she edges her way in to working for the Examiner as a columnist, providing her own interpretation on certain happenings.

Emilia reflects, “Over the years that I’ve worked with the Examiner I have not been the only woman; there are a few ladies who cover the society section and fashion, the flower shows, the formal balls and galas, and domestic topics, but I am the only one who had to hide behind a male pseudonym. I was not considered a journalist by my editor, who kept reminding me that I was a columnist and my success depended on how original and personal my chronicles were…….However, I was not part of the regular staff and I did not receive a monthly salary; they paid me a ridiculously low wage that not even a hermit could live on, but I felt proud to be published”.

In 1891, Emilia is given the opportunity for adventure that she so desperately craves. She, and fellow writer for the Examiner, Eric Whelan, are  to travel to Chile to cover, according to Chamberlain, “some kind of revolution or civil war going on down there…..and that some rebels were attempting to acquire weapons and ammunition in New York and then ship them to Chile via a Californian port”.

Now the novel really gains momentum and intrigue, as Emilia, after putting the idea to Chamberlain for her and Eric to travel to Chile to cover the uprising, embarks on a life-altering journey where she will be tested physically, emotionally and mentally. Sometimes beyond what she thinks she can endure.

In Chamberlain’s view, “Chile’s arrogance could be of interest to our readers. It sounds ridiculous, but that tiny nation aims to compete with the United States for influence and control of the Pacific coast”.

Emilia persuades Chamberlain to make her a war correspondent, something unheard of, regarding a woman being in such a position. Eric becomes a war correspondent also.

President Jose Manuel Balmaceda, of Chile, is in dire danger of having his position toppled by the uprising rebels, the Revolutionary Junta. Which side will Emilia and Eric respectively cover? Which side will emerge victorious? How great will the loss of human life, animals and property be in the war?

What will Emilia see and hear during her time in a country that has so tragically lost it’s way and former stability and prosperity?

Will Emilia ever get to meet her father, Gonzalo, who is the nephew of the fearsomely intimidating and aristocratic, Paulina del Valle?

Is Gonzalo still spending his money like there is no tomorrow, or is he now a responsible citizen? Did he ever marry and have a family after breaking Molly’s heart?

Does Emilia dare hope that Gonzalo, and by extension Paulina, will welcome her into the clan? It is something that Molly has pinned her dreams on. Molly is also insistent that her daughter be given money by her Chilean relatives.

Why is there such class and economic disparity among the citizens in Chile at this time?

Who are the eclectic and morally diverse people that Emilia encounters in Chile? What are their background stories?

How will it come to be that Emilia acquires a significant piece of land in the southern part of Chile? Will it be easy for her to find and visit the area?

Will Emilia be captured by one of the sides in the war, and will she emerge forever changed?

What romance transpires in Emilia’s life? Can such a headstrong girl (she is 25 when she goes to Chile) suit a romantic partner?

Despite the trauma and futility of war that Emilia encounters, she falls in love with the country of Chile. A land so sublime (when humans are not cruelly opposing each other) and welcoming in times of peace.

Although Emilia’s story is fictional, the uprising and civil war in Chile in the late 1800s actually took place. It is obvious that Isabel meticulously researched the historical events that are so well detailed in this book. It is also apparent throughout the book that Isabel still loves Chile and it’s wonderful culture, despite now living in another country. 
Despite the descriptions of war and human suffering, in many ways My Name is Emilia del Valle is a love letter from Isabel to Chile.

Bravo Isabel! Your writing is exquisite. I am so glad I finally got around to reading one of your books (more than 80 million have been sold across 42 languages) and I hope to read many more.

I was interested to read on the internet that Isabel writes all her novels in her first language, Spanish. The translator from Spanish to English of this novel is Frances Riddle, and she has done a superb job. The words sing on the page.

I was certainly engrossed in this novel from page one. One of the joys of reading is to be taken mentally to places and times that one would not otherwise get to experience. In a perfect world, I would love to visit Chile (and many other countries), but books give us the next best thing, as our imaginations are fed and ignited.

Isabel exhibits so much intelligence, insight into the human condition and psyche, and wisdom in her writing. And Chile should be proud of her.

I look forward to reading more of Isabel’s books and being privy to others’ journeys through life through her beautiful words.