A Long Petal of the Sea

A Novel

By: Isabel Allende, Nick Caistor, Amanda Hopkinson

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini

New York Times Best Seller

From the author of The House of the Spirits, this epic novel spanning decades and crossing continents follows two young people as they flee the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War in search of a place to call home.

“One of the most richly imagined portrayals of the Spanish Civil War to date, and one of the strongest and most affecting works in [Isabel Allende’s] long career.” (The New York Times Book Review)

Named One of The Best Books of The Year By Esquire • Good Housekeeping • Parade

In the late 1930s, civil war grips 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 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 desires.

Together with two thousand other refugees, Roser and Victor embark on the SS Winnipeg, a ship chartered by the poet Pablo Neruda, to Chile: “the long petal of sea and wine and snow.” As unlikely partners, the couple embraces exile as the rest of Europe erupts in world war. Starting over on a new continent, they face trial after trial, but they will also find joy as they patiently await the day when they might go home. Through it all, their hope of returning to Spain keeps them going. Destined to witness the battle between freedom and repression as it plays out across the world, Roser and Victor will find that home might have been closer than they thought all along.

A masterful work of historical fiction about hope, exile, and belonging, A Long Petal of the Sea shows Isabel Allende at the height of her powers.

Praise for A Long Petal of the Sea

“Both an intimate look at the relationship between one man and one woman and an epic story of love, war, family, and the search for home, this gorgeous novel, like all the best novels, transports the reader to another time and place, and also sheds light on the way we live now.” (J. Courtney Sullivan, author of Saints for All Occasions)

“This is a novel not just for those of us who have been Allende fans for decades, but also for those who are brand-new to her work: What a joy it must be to come upon Allende for the first time. She knows that all stories are love stories, and the greatest love stories are told by time.” (Colum McCann, National Book Award-winning author of Let the Great World Spin)

©2020 Isabel Allende (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Edoardo Ballerini's sensitive narration of Isabel Allende's lyrical prose touches the heart.... Ballerini expertly delivers Allende's reminder of how delicate the boundary is between precious freedom and insidious tyranny. Powerful listening." (AudioFile Magazine)

"Majestic...both timeless and perfectly timed for today...Allende’s assured prose vividly evokes her fictional characters [and] historical figures...seamlessly juxtaposing exile with homecoming, otherness with belonging, and tyranny with freedom." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

"A tale that is seductively intimate and strategically charming...a virtuoso of lucidly well-told, utterly enrapturing fiction...Allende deftly addresses war, displacement, violence, and loss in a novel of survival and love under siege." (Booklist, starred review)

Wish this had a connectable story line

I normally enjoy Allende. The historical portion was ok, but the story was dull. No connection or love for any character.

Too Political

I enjoyed parts of the book, but I got bored with the politics. I suppose it’s an important part of the story, but I just don’t care to listen to it.

I like historical fiction. I listened to the book because another reviewer said it was poetic. I don’t really agree. I had to make myself finish it.

Phoned in

This novel reads much like others I have read. There is nothing new in the predictable plot. The history of Spain and Chile could have been gotten from Wikipedia. The only thing good was the quotes from Neruda. I’m sorry, because Allende’s first book is one of the best I have ever read.

Crazy and Cool all in one

This is a good novel. I enjoyed it! The twists and turns right until the end. Tears, laughter, joy, and a little annoyance- what a roller coaster! The narrator was awesome! I gave it
4-stars because it was a little difficult to follow at times; but when I got back on track it was a non-stop ride. Well done

What really matters

The game of thrones hurts the poor most, while the rich manage very well with minor injury when a government in power tries to even the playing field.

Allende explores the traffic consequences of war, fascism, exile, wealth disparity, and opposing the desires of the wealthy while at the same time revealing that what really matters in this life are the relationships we develop and the love we share with others. Spanning 60 years and two civil wars half a world away from each other, Allende's beautiful, sweeping novel of a family in exile...twice... is a tale more Americans need to read. Our government's intervention in the Democratic process of other nations when the result is not as they desire, along with their support of authoritarian, fascist, often dictatorial governments, should trouble us all. If it bothers us only in Germany and Russia but not in places like Spain and Chile, what does that reveal about us?

A history of family & civil unrest

A trip through history with family as the vehicle. Sweetly reminding us of gratitude for that which is truly important and the circles in natural cycles.

Educational and Entertaining

Over many decades the characters interact, grow, and become important to the reader. Historical setting develops the meaning in the story. Another Allende gem.

loved it!!

Great story, lots of history. I would highly recommend this book. Reader is easy to listen too. loved everything I've read from this author.

lovely book

Lovely story , book and characters. I truly enjoyed the recount of the Spanish Civil war and the consequences it had for so many people.

Incomplete ending

The narration is fine - there is differentiation in voices and flows with the story. I can’t imagine what the expectations are for those who are vilifying the narration. The story is fascinating and gives a glimpse into pieces of history that I was unfamiliar with, but the ending confuses me. It just ends, seemingly in the middle of a story line.