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Becoming A Master Student, Concise, Tenth Edition
Dave Ellis
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Daughter of a famous Chilean diplomatic official (though she never knew him during his life), adopted daughter of another diplomat to Bolivia and Beirut, niece to Chile's first Socialist President, Isabel Allende, was born into a world of politics and social consciousness. She was born August 1, 1942 - a time of political unrest in the country. Decades of shifts in power between the extreme left and right, socialist labor movements and militaristic dictatorships, had brought instability and change to much of the post-colonial South America. Labor rights, women's rights, and democratic representation were all in the balance of this struggle. Her close proximity to the interworkings of these movements would have a profound effect on Allende's life.
In 1945, Allende's mother left her diplomat husband, after years plagued with betrayal, and moved with her three young children to her parent's home in the capital, Santiago. Here Allende was cared for by her mother and grandparents, and learned the virtues of strength and independence.
In 1953, Allende's mother remarried, to another Chilean diplomat, and Allende spent the majority of her elementary and secondary education in the North American and English schools in Bolivia and Beruit. This opportunity provided her with not only an expanded view of the world, but also a more liberal education.
Allende returned to Chile in 1958, leaving Beruit in the midst of the crisis over the Suez Canal. Here she completed her secondary studies, and then began working for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN in Santiago. This was at a time when the Communist party in Chile was making gains in the government, after being banned for 10 years, and threatening the power of the Right and Center. Salvador Allende, Isabel's uncle, was a prominent figure in the Communist movement, and made a number of failed attempts at the presidency.
In 1962, Allende married Miguel Frias, and a year later gave birth to a daughter, Paula. The young family traveled Europe for the next two years before returning to Chile, where Allende bore a son, Nicolas, in 1966. In 1967, Allende began what would become an illustrious career in writing, writing feminist articles as part of the first editorial team for the influential magazine, Paula. Over the next several years, she gained popular notoriety as a writer for not only magazines, but also television and film documentaries.
During this time, Salvador Allende became the first Socialist president in Chilean history, and introduced far-reaching social and economic reforms. However, fierce opposition and US backed force soon lead to a military coup which ended in the assent to power of General Augusto Pinochet and the death of Allende.
Isabelle Allende left the oppressive climate now in place in Chile, and moved with her family to Venezuela. As a political exile, she joined the community of Chilean intellectuals in active protest over the turmoil in her native land.
In 1981, after hearing of her grandfather's approaching death, she began a letter to him that became the novel, House of Spirits. Allende garnered international praise for this work, and became a major force in South American literature, writing in the genre of magical realism.
She continues her political and feminist writings, gives lectures across Europe and the United States, holds workshops and teaches at many US institutions. Her work has been translated into over 25 languages and has been adapted to film, stage, opera and ballet.
Allende divorced Frias and in 1988 married Willie Gordon, taking up permanent residence in California. In 1990, after a long reign of terror which finally led to Pinochet's ejection from power, a democracy was established in Chile for the first time since 1970 and Allende returned home to receive the Gabriela Mistral award for her work in support of her country.
For Isabel Allende, 1991 was a pivotal year. Her daughter, Paula, an activist in her own right, suffered an attack of Porphyria, a hereditary disease of which very little is known. She fell into a coma and passed away within the year. From this ordeal Allende wrote the novel Paula, which presents a mythic, semi-autobiographical look at her daughter and her life. This became another important work in her literary career.
In 1996, the Isabel Allende Foundation was created using revenue from the sales of Paula, and as an homage to her daughter. This international organization is dedicated to those in need, especially women and children, by providing support for education, health, and shelter.
Over the years, Isabel Allende has won numerous awards for her writing and her humanitarianism. These include countless book and author of the year awards in the US, Europe, and Chile, honorary degrees from institutions worldwide, and awards and honors for her services to peace and human rights.
More information is available for each of the Master Student Profiles that appear in Becoming a Master Student. Start by visiting these web sites to find out more about the Isabel Allende. Then, use your favorite search engine to find more information. Remember to think critically about information you find online.
Student Voice: If you find a URL that you think your fellow Master Students will find helpful in researching a Master Student Profile, submit your findings to College Survival for posting on this web site.
Mail to: csweb.collegesurvival@cengage.com
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