La isla bajo el mar [NOOK Book]

( 35 )

Overview

Nacida en la isla de Santo Domingo, Zarité, conocida como Tété, es la hija de una madre africana a la que nunca conoció y de uno de los marineros blancos que la llevaron a la esclavitud. A pesar de que su infancia esta colmada de brutalidad y miedo, Tété encuentra consuelo en los ritmos tradicionales de los tambores africanos y la alabanza del vudú, que descubre a través de sus compañeros de esclavitud. Cuando Toulouse Valmorain, a los veinte años de edad, llega a la isla en 1770, lo hace con pelucas empolvadas ...
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La isla bajo el mar

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Overview

Nacida en la isla de Santo Domingo, Zarité, conocida como Tété, es la hija de una madre africana a la que nunca conoció y de uno de los marineros blancos que la llevaron a la esclavitud. A pesar de que su infancia esta colmada de brutalidad y miedo, Tété encuentra consuelo en los ritmos tradicionales de los tambores africanos y la alabanza del vudú, que descubre a través de sus compañeros de esclavitud. Cuando Toulouse Valmorain, a los veinte años de edad, llega a la isla en 1770, lo hace con pelucas empolvadas en sus baúles y con sueños de éxito financiero en su mente. Pero manejar la plantación de su padre, Saint-Lazare, no era una actividad atractiva ni fácil. A pesar de que Valmorain compra a la joven Tété para su novia, es él el que dependerá de los servicios de su esclava adolescente. Contra el despiadado telón de fondo de los campos de caña de azúcar, las vidas de Tété y de Valmorain se entrelazan cada vez más. Cuando la sangrienta revolución de Toussaint Louverture llega a las puertas de Saint-Lazare, huyen de las brutales condiciones de la colonia francesa, que pronto se convertiría en Haití, a una empresa estridente de libre comercio en Nueva Orleans. Allí, Tété finalmente forja una nueva vida, pero su conexión con Valmorain es más profunda de lo que la gente cree y no se rompe fácilmente. Con una riqueza impresionante de detalles, y un ingenio y un vigor narrativo insuperable, Allende artesanalmente crea la fascinante historia de una mujer decidida a encontrar el amor entre la pérdida, para ofrecer humanidad, aunque la suya ha sido tan maltratada, y forjar una nueva identidad en la más cruel de las circunstancias.
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Editorial Reviews

Library Journal
La isla bajo el mar. (The Island Below the Sea) Allende, Isabel. U.S.: Vintage Español: Random House. 2009. 510p. ISBN 978-0-307-47604-3. $26.95. HISTORICAL FICTION STARAllende’s latest excursion into historical fiction takes us to the Caribbean of the late 18th to early 19th century, first to the island of Saint-Domingue (Santo Domingo—later the capital of the Dominican Republic) and then to New Orleans. Toulouse Valmorain, a French national who comes to the New World to save his father’s sugar plantation and the family, yearns to return to Paris. A humanist by nature, he is uncomfortable with the institution of slavery but considers it a necessary evil for the profitable running of the plantation. The first persona narratives of the slave Zarité, Valmorain’s wife’s servant, are the heart and soul of this novel, where passionate human melodrama takes place against the backdrop of exciting historical revolts, as slaves fight for their freedom and plantation owners struggle to maintain the status quo. Allende is diligent at recreating the varied cultures that collided in the Caribbean at that time. Readers will sink their teeth into this sweeping epic, It is an indispensable addition to every collection.—Sara Martinez, Hispanic Resource Center; Tulsa City-County Library System, OK
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9788415551164
  • Publisher: Leer-e
  • Publication date: 8/2/2012
  • Language: Spanish
  • Sold by: Barnes & Noble
  • Format: eBook
  • Sales rank: 39,698
  • File size: 2 MB

Meet the Author

Isabel Allende

Isabel Allende nació en 1942 en Perú, donde su padre era diplomático chileno. Vivió en Chile entre 1945 y 1975, con largas temporadas de residencia en otros lugares, en Venezuela hasta 1988 y, a partir de entonces, en California. Inició su carrera literaria en el periodismo, en Chile y en Venezuela. En 1982 su primera novela, La casa de los espíritus, se convirtió en uno de los títulos míticos de la literatura latinoamericana. A ella le siguieron otros muchos, todos los cuales han sido éxitos internacionales. Su obra ha sido traducida a treinta y cinco idiomas.

Biography

In Isabel Allende's books, human beings do not exist merely in the three-dimensional sense. They can exert themselves as memory, as destiny, as spirits without form, as fairy tales. Just as the more mystical elements of Allende's past have shaped her work, so has the hard-bitten reality. Working as a journalist in Chile, Allende was forced to flee the country with her family after her uncle, President Salvador Allende, was killed in a coup in 1973.

Out of letters to family back in Chile came the manuscript that was to become Allende's first novel. Her arrival on the publishing scene in 1985 with The House of the Spirits was instantly recognized as a literary event. The New York Times called it "a unique achievement, both personal witness and possible allegory of the past, present and future of Latin America."

To read a book by Allende is to believe in (or be persuaded of) the power of transcendence, spiritual and otherwise. Her characters are often what she calls "marginal," those who strive to live on the fringes of society. It may be someone like Of Love and Shadows 's Hipolito Ranquileo, who makes his living as a circus clown; or Eva Luna, a poor orphan who is the center of two Allende books (Eva Luna and The Stories of Eva Luna).

Allende's characters have in common an inner fortitude that proves stronger than their adversity, and a sense of lineage that propels them both forward and backward. When you meet a central character in an Allende novel, be prepared to meet a few generations of his or her family. This multigenerational thread drives The House of the Spirits, the tale of the South American Trueba family. Not only did the novel draw Allende critical accolades (with such breathless raves as "spectacular," "astonishing" and "mesmerizing" from major reviewers), it landed her firmly in the magic realist tradition of predecessor (and acknowledged influence) Gabriel García Márquez. Some of its characters also reappeared in the historical novels Portrait in Sepia and Daughter of Fortune.

"It's strange that my work has been classified as magic realism," Allende has said, "because I see my novels as just being realistic literature." Indeed, much of what might be considered "magic" to others is real to Allende, who based the character Clara del Valle in The House of the Spirits on her own reputedly clairvoyant grandmother. And she has drawn as well upon the political violence that visited her life: Of Love and Shadows (1987) centers on a political crime in Chile, and other Allende books allude to the ideological divisions that affected the author so critically.

But all of her other work was "rehearsal," says Allende, for what she considers her most difficult and personal book. Paula is written for Allende's daughter, who died in 1992 after several months in a coma. Like Allende's fiction, it tells Paula's story through that of Allende's own and of her relatives. Allende again departed from fiction in Aphrodite, a book that pays homage to the romantic powers of food (complete with recipes for two such as "Reconciliation Soup"). The book's lighthearted subject matter had to have been a necessity for Allende, who could not write for nearly three years after the draining experience of writing Paula.

Whichever side of reality she is on, Allende's voice is unfailingly romantic and life-affirming, creating mystery even as she uncloaks it. Like a character in Of Love and Shadows, Allende tells "stories of her own invention whose aim [is] to ease suffering and make time pass more quickly," and she succeeds.

Good To Know

Allende has said that the character of Gregory Reeves in The Infinite Plan is based on her husband, Willie Gordon.

Allende begins all of her books on January 8, which she considers lucky because it was the day she began writing a letter to her dying grandfather that later became The House of the Spirits.

She began her career as a journalist, editing the magazine Paula and later contributing to the Venezuelan paper El Nacional.

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 35 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(21)

4 Star

(8)

3 Star

(2)

2 Star

(2)

1 Star

(2)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 35 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 17, 2010

    Entertaining

    Anything written by Isabel Allende is entertaining and catchy because once you start reading the book you don't want to put it down.

    I have read all her books and I have yet to be disappointed.

    4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 9, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    Mi pais inventado: Un paseo nostalgico por Chile (My Invented Country: A Nostalgic Journey through Chile)
    Paula (en espanol)

    Exelente!!!

    Como toda su obra, de principio a fin, Zarite es un personaje exquisito,lleno de matices, con sentimientos escondidos, disfrasados, pero al mismo tiempo autenticos,y verdaderos.
    El amor todo lo puede.!

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 26, 2010

    Nice book

    I loved to read this book, same way I love every single book of Ms. Allende.

    Unfortunately I have to returned it to the library I couldn't buy it.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 10, 2009

    What A Book!!!

    Excellent! Impossible to put down. Hopefully there is sequel soon. A must-have-must-read.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 7, 2009

    "La 'Selva Imposible'; -Puntualizaciones criticas a Isabel Allende"

    Saludos amigos del mundo:
    Con el titulo que encabeza este comentario publicamos un analisis en el que diferimos del enfoque que se hace de la Isla Hispaniola en aspectos de geografia y flora y fauna; todo ello sin menoscabar el alto valor literario, argumental y estetico de la novela.
    Recomiendo su lectura a fin de que puedan conocer algunas facetas sobre las naciones que comparten la isla (Haiti y Rep. Dominicana).
    Con aprecio,

    Sergio Reyes II. sergioreyII@hotmail.com

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 9, 2012

    Muy muy buena

    Una de las mejores e impactantes novelas que he leido.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted January 11, 2012

    Higly recommended!

    I had a pleasant surprise with this book by Isabel Allende. It's a historic novel about slavery and life in the french-spanish caribbean colonies in the new world. It has different stories of bravery women surrounded by love and life in the XIX century. What a great book! I higlhy recommended it.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 3, 2011

    Excellent Book! Libro excelente!

    Disfrute mucho la lectura de este libro. Isabel Allende como siempre tiene el poder de atraparnos como lectores con sus historias. Este libro no solo cuenta la vida de una esclava, tambien como sus anteriores personajes femeninos, Zarite muestra una fortaleza increible!. Otro aspecto positivo de este libro es como atraves de la historia de una esclava tambien muestra al lector ese periodo historico de esclavitud. Lo recomiendo 100% por 100%.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted October 1, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    La suma de los dias (The Sum of Our Days)

    Una Isabelita mas realista...

    Si bien es cierto; En cada pagina escrita por el escritor , se ensartan trocitos de su alma. En esta nueva entrega de Isabel Allende, Narrada con una realidad -isabell (contrario a las entregas anteriores). Nos presenta nuevamente una mujer , una esclava , en los años 1700-1800.A diferencia de las mujeres de sus obras anteriores ,Zarité aunque anida en su alma el deseo punzante de alcanzar esa libertad , que tantas guerras a desembocado en la historia. Se muestra fiel al amor a sus hijos, que no le pertenecen y la fidelidad a un amo que para el,esta no es mas que varias monedas. Esta historia esta plasmada en Saint-Domingue actualmente Haití. Al adentraenos entre los relieves de la misma, nos demuestra que esclavo no solo se define por el color de la piel. Hasta los blancs, affranchis, sang-milee o cualquier tono mas claro que el negro. Eran mas esclavos que los mismos negros de las plantaciones , arrastrados y arrancados de sus tierras en un aire lejano. Aunque aveces nos invade un sentimiento de indigancion y repulsuion al culpar a Zarité (Isabell) de no sublevarse, de someterce , de no ser esa mujer desafiante de lo que escriba su z`etoile. Resplandece la inteligencia de la mujer sabia y sumisa que mantiene su mirada en el piso , pero su alma en los deseos inmaculados de su corazon. Los blancos con sus plantaciones, sus sociedades cerradas. Escalvos de sus propias costumbres y juzgados por su mimsa raza. No amaban con la sangre , no bailaban con el espiritu , ni disfrutaban de sus riquezas. Mientras los esclavos aunque trabajacen bajo el latigo del verdugo o el colmillo de los perro carniceros. En los pocos momentos de tranquilidad que creian poseer y aunque en la realidad mundana no poseian NADA. Eran los unicos libres , al amarse , los unicos libres al ayudarce y los unicos libres al bailar. "Por que esclavo que baila es libre , mientras baila" .

    Nos invade la tristeza cuando narra Zarité el destino final de Rosette. Es casi imposible perderce la nube oscura en el papel , los dedos escritores y dolidos de Isabell. Me atrevo a pensar que talvez llegó tan adentro esta parte de ella misma, que ya no pudo continuar la historia y los destinos de sus personajes se vieron cortados de un salto.

    Me hubiese gustado saber que pasaria con Hortense , esposa del Señor Valmoraine o con el mismo. Con Jean-Martin y demas. TENGO MUCHAS COSAS MAS QEU DECIR, PERO SERá EN MI POCO UPDATED BLOG. www.gilbarrientos.wordpress.com

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 21, 2013

    Excelente historia y fantasia

    Este libro te cautiva desde el inicio. Puedes oir las voces de los personajes, sentir sus emociones. Te da un buen entendimiento de la vida colonial en aquella epoca y el contraste con la esclavitud y la lucha por la libertad fisica y espiritual.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 26, 2013

    Story

    My story will not be posted here!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 27, 2012

    Interesante historia pero....

    Sorprendentemente, a pesar de una autora hispana, este libro tine una gran cantidad de faltas de ortografia.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 12, 2012

    Vale la pena a pesar de las erratas tipograficas

    Esta novela vuelve a estar a la altura de las primeras de Allende, como la casa de los espiritus. Entreteje personajes de ficcion con los hechos reales y la injusticia fe la esclavitud y la segregacion por cantidad de sangre blanca: negros, mulatos, cuarterones, etc. Lo unico lamentable de la version electronica es que tiene muchos errores de tipografia, como si hubiera fallas en el software de reconocimiento de caracteres. Pero vale la pena por la historia, muy bien documentada y entretenida.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 15, 2012

    Me entretuvo...

    En general me gusto la historia. Es ficcion basada en hechos reales. Se nota que la autora se documento muy bien antes de escribir.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 14, 2012

    Too many typos

    Interestig story. The only "major" problem I found to be very annoying for me is that the electronic version has lots and lots of typos. Does anybody proofread before publication?

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 9, 2012

    Great book!

    A fascinating story. Very intense, as all of Isabel Allende’s books. The only complaint I have, is that the electronic version has too many mistakes.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 4, 2012

    Super hermoso me dejo fascinsada no te puedes despegar del drama

    Buena literatura y amena me encanto


    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 24, 2010

    interestining

    I like Isabel Allende themes.

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  • Posted November 18, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    Mi mama adora a Isabel Allende...

    le encanto este nuevo libro.!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 3, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

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