My Name is Emilia Del Valle by Isabel Allende
Born in 1866 San Francisco to Molly Walsh (a former novice nun) and a Chilean aristocrat who vanishes without a trace, Emilia del Valle grows up in the city’s Mission District under the care of her strong-willed mother and loving stepfather. Fiercely independent and unwilling to conform to the expectations of women in the late 19th century, Emilia begins her literary career writing sensational dime novels under the male pseudonym Brandon J. Price. Her ambition soon pushes her into journalism, where she fights for a place in a male-dominated newsroom at The Daily Examiner.
Emilia’s restless spirit leads her to New York for human-interest stories and then to Chile when civil war erupts in 1891. Assigned to cover the conflict, she navigates battlefields, political intrigue, and social upheaval while confronting her own heritage and the father who abandoned her. Along the way, Emilia wrestles with questions of identity, love, and integrity, carving out a life that defies convention and places her at the heart of history.
The story is a sweeping historical novel that blends adventure, romance, and social commentary with Allende’s trademark lyricism. Emilia is a classic Allende heroine: bold, flawed, and unforgettable. Her journey from pulp fiction writer to war correspondent is both exhilarating and poignant, offering a vivid portrait of a woman determined to claim her voice in a world that wants her silent. A powerful, atmospheric novel about resilience and self-discovery. Fans of Allende’s earlier works, and anyone who loves historical fiction with heart and grit, will find this an absorbing read.
