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'''Isabel Allende Llona''' (born [[August 2]], [[1942]]) is a Peruvian-born Chilean-American writer, who is considered one of the most popular novelists in the world today, having sold over 35 million copies and translated in 27 different languages.
AllendeIsabel was born in [[Lima]], [[Peru]], to diplomat [[Tomás Allende]], who was a Chilean ambassador there. She is the niece of [[Salvador Allende]], the President of [[Chile]] from [[1970]] to [[1973|73]]. In 1945, her parents separated, and her mother relocated with their three children to [[Chile]], where they lived until [[1953]].
The family later moved to [[Bolivia]] and then to [[Lebanon]]. While in [[Bolivia]], AllendeIsabel attended an [[United States|American]] private school, and while in [[Lebanon]], she attended a [[British]] private school in [[Beirut]]. She returned to [[Chile]] in [[1958]] to complete her secondary education, and there she met her first husband, [[Miguel Frías]], whom she married in [[1962]].
From [[1959]] to [[1965]], AllendeIsabel worked with the [[United Nations]]'s [[Food and Agriculture Organization]] in [[Santiago, Chile|Santiago]], and later in [[Brussels, Belgium]], and elsewhere in [[Europe]]. Her daughter Paula was born in [[1963]]. In [[1966]], AllendeIsabel returned to [[Chile]], and her son Nicolás was born there that year.
Beginning in [[1967]], Isabel Allende was on the editorial staff for ''Paula'' magazine, and from 1973 to 1974 for the children's magazine ''Mampato''. She published two children's stories, "La Abuela Panchita" and "Lauchas y Lauchones,", as well as a collection of articles, ''Civilice a Su Troglodita''. She also worked in Chilean television production for channels 7 and 13.
In [[1973]], AllendeIsabel's play ''El Embajador'' debuted in Santiago. On [[September 11]] of that same year, her uncle, [[Salvador Allende]], was overthrown in the wake of a violent coup and killed himself during the capture of [[La Moneda]] (the seat of the presidency of Chile). In 1975, Isabel Allende went into exile in [[Venezuela]]. While there, she worked for the [[Caracas]] newspaper ''El Nacional'' and as a teacher in a secondary school.
In [[1981]], AllendeIsabel learned that her grandfather, age 99, was on his deathbed. She started writing him a letter that later evolved into a book manuscript, ''[[The House of Spirits]]'' (1982). The book was a great success and was later made into a film (''[[The House of the Spirits]]'', 1993) by [[Denmark|Danish]] director [[Bille August]]. The movie starred [[Jeremy Irons]], [[Meryl Streep]], [[Winona Ryder]], [[Glenn Close]] and [[Antonio Banderas]].
During a visit to [[California]] in [[1988]], AllendeIsabel met her current husband, [[Willie Gordon]], a lawyer, and has lived in [[San Rafael, California|San Rafael]] since then. In [[2003]] she obtained [[United States|U.S.]] citizenship.
In [[2006]], she was one of the eight flag bearers at the [[2006 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony|Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics]].
Isabel Allende's books are known for their vivid, emotive storytelling. AllendeShe uses emotive words and phrases to explain things in her books. This style of writing is a trademark of Allende's work, and she is known to be a master of it.
AllendeIsabel's book ''Paula'' (1994) is a stirring memoir of her childhood in [[Santiago, Chile|Santiago]], and her years in exile. It was written in the form of a letter to her daughter Paula, who lay in a coma in the hospital (she died of [[porphyria]] in 1992). In addition to ''The House of Spirits'' and ''Paula'', her books include:
*''La gorda de porcelana'' (1984)
*''The Infinite Plan'' (1991)
*''Afrodite'' (1997)
*''Daughter of Fortune'' (1999).
*''Portrait in Sepia'' (2000)
*''City of the Beasts'' (2002)
*''[[Zorro: A Novel]]'' (2005)
*''La Malinche'' (2006)
==External links==
*[http://www.isabelallende.com/ Isabel Allende's Official Website]
*{{isfdb name|id=Isabel_Allende|name=Isabel Allende}}
*[http://www.threemonkeysonline.com/article_isabel_allende_interview.htm Memories, Fight and Fantasy at the Hand of the Great Superhero of the Spanish Narrative - Isabel Allende in interview]
[[Category:1942 births|Allende, Isabel]]
[[Category:Living people|Allende, Isabel]] ▼[[Category:Chilean people|Allende, Isabel]]
[[Category:Peruvian-Americans|Allende, Isabel]] ▼[[Category:Chilean writers|Allende, Isabel]]
▲[[Category:Living people|Allende, Isabel]]
[[Category:Members of The American Academy of Arts and Letters|Allende, Isabel]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States|Allende, Isabel]]
▲[[Category:Peruvian-Americans|Allende, Isabel]]
[[ar:إيزابيل أليندي]]
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