My Name Is Emilia del Valle

A Novel

By: Isabel Allende, Frances Riddle - translator

Narrated by: Coral Peña, Johnathan McClain

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • In this “stunning” (People), “riveting” (Entertainment Weekly) historical novel, a young writer journeys to South America to uncover the truth about her father—and herself.

“All of Allende’s books, My Name Is Emilia del Valle included, have the epic feel of a major Hollywood film.”—Associated Press

AN NPR AND NEW YORKER BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

In San Francisco in 1866, an Irish nun, abandoned following a torrid relationship with a Chilean aristocrat, gives birth to a daughter named Emilia del Valle. Raised by a loving stepfather, Emilia grows into an independent thinker and a self-sufficient young woman.

To pursue her passion for writing, she is willing to defy societal norms. At the age of seventeen, she begins to publish pulp fiction using a man’s pen name. When these fictional worlds can no longer satisfy her sense of adventure, she turns to journalism, convincing an editor at The Daily Examiner to hire her. There she is paired with another talented reporter, Eric Whelan.

As she proves herself, her restlessness returns, until an opportunity arises to cover a brewing civil war in Chile. She seizes it, as does Eric, and while there, she meets her estranged father and delves into the violent confrontation in the country where her roots lie. As she and Eric discover love, the war escalates and Emilia finds herself in extreme danger, fearing for her life and questioning her identity and her destiny.

A riveting tale of self-discovery and love from one of the most masterful storytellers of our time, My Name Is Emilia del Valle introduces a character who will never let hold of your heart.

Critic reviews

“Stunning.”—PEOPLE

“Riveting.”—Entertainment Weekly

“A deeply researched historical adventure, excavating both romantic and journalistic exploits with verve and passion . . . The upheaval that Emilia del Valle recounts in 1891 is our clarion call in 2025.”—The Washington Post

“Bestselling author Isabel Allende has crafted yet another spellbinding narrative in My Name Is Emilia del Valle, a historical novel about self-discovery, ambition, and destiny.”—Harper’s Bazaar

“Isabel Allende never fails to deliver on the sweeping and spellbinding front. Her latest historical novel is about an ambitious young aspiring writer who goes after her dreams—much like Allende herself did.”—Today

“Thrilling and revelatory . . . Allende’s writing is as lush as ever . . . The author’s legions of fans will love this.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“All of Allende’s books . . . have the epic feel of a major Hollywood film.”—Associated Press

“Moving.”—Booklist

“A swashbuckling tale of the life and adventures of a young woman born in San Francisco in the 1860s. Emilia’s story is exciting, empowering, and inherently feminist.”—Shelf Awareness

“An action-packed, brightly detailed historical novel.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Emilia del Valle dares to forge her own path and break the rules set for women, and in doing so finds herself on a dangerous journey of self-discovery that will challenge everything she believes to be true.”—Kristin Hannah, author of The Women

“A captivating novel of love and war from one of our most revered storytellers.”—Kate Morton, author of Homecoming

“Isabel Allende is one of the great storytellers of our time. Her books are multilayered, deeply magical, and unputdownable—and they always touch the heart. They’re quite simply beautiful. My Name is Emilia del Valle is a spellbinding masterpiece. I really loved it.”—Santa Montefiore, author of The Girl in the Castle

“Anyone who is a fan of historical fiction should look no further. . . . If you have ever read a Kristin Hannah book or think you might enjoy historical fiction, Allende is here for you.”—Her Campus

“In this spellbinding historical novel . . . a young writer journeys to South America to uncover the truth about her father—and herself.”—The Nerd Daily

“With her signature lyrical prose, Allende explores themes of love, self-discovery, and resilience, crafting an emotional tapestry that will captivate readers.”—AL DÍA

As expected

Another experience of learning through the fiction and joy. Education system should start including Isabel Allende in their programs.

Beautiful prose and outstanding story lines

I loved the resilience of the characters in this multifaceted love history of adventure , loss and tragedy

Good story; terrible narration

The story about this strong minded character was good. The details would have interesting; but it was lost on my annoyance with narration. The story was read in a way where the words were broken up as if the narrator added her own punctuation. I was focused more on how many words the narrator could speak without pausing. The answer: generally 3-4; occasionally 7.

Great story

The story was compelling. Allende always is. Perhaps in the translation some things were lost. Did they use the word “kids” for children in the late 1800’s? Was the verb “gifted” used at that time? I think not. The narrater had that annoying Peppa Pig way of leaving out the “t” in words such as mountain (moun-un), certain (cer-un) and the like. Drove me crazy but otherwise she had a lovely voice.

Isabel Allende back to her roots

With much love and affection this bol reminds me of Isabel’s original novels and nothing can compare the spirit of the voice of women she writes for. It took me on a journey through history and also taught me lessons I can use now.