Isabel Allende

March 15, 2014
Part of the McFarland Literary Companion series, this is a scholarly and expertly crafted study guide and tribute to the works of Isabel Allende. Widely recognized as one of the finest writers of our time, Allende is best known for her insights on Latin America, multiculturalism, and global feminism. Author Snodgrass has written several titles for the series, and she clearly both understands and treasures great literature. The alphabetically arranged subject entries cover various themes, such as death, evil, mothering, nativism, and superstition. These entries are rich in relevant historical detail, insightful literary criticism, and reflections on Allende's place among contemporary writers of serious fiction. As a typical example, the superstition entry discusses Allende's references to the supernatural, provides citations to specific works, places Allende's treatment of superstition in cultural context, and offers comparisons to the work of other literary figures. In addition to thematic entries, Snodgrass provides her readers with highly readable and engaging essays on specific Allende writings. Extra features in this title include a 20-page Allende chronology, a genealogy, a brief glossary, a historical time line of the Allende canon, teaching activities, a bibliography, and an exhaustive index. Isabel Allende: A Literary Companion is an erudite, affectionate, and wonderfully rich treatment of Isabel Allende and her work. Any academic or public library that offers her literature should add it to the circulating collection.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)