A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende

 A Long Petal of the Sea begins in 1930’s Spain and progresses from turbulent times of social conflicts in Spain to the ones in Chile, where the two main characters, Victor and Roser, after leaving their homeland of Spain try to make Chile their new home. Victor Dalmau’s decision of leaving his work as a doctor in the army hospital isn’t easy. His obligation is torn between his patients and to the responsibility he feels toward Roser. She is a gifted music student taken under the protective wings of Victor’s father, who is a music teacher in Barcelona, and in a way is adapted as a family member.

As Franco’s Nationalist troops advance, there is an exodus of people trekking toward the French border. And when fascists take over the country, Victor feels responsibility toward Roser. Thus, they sail with about two thousand other Spaniards to Chile. A country, none of them knows anything about. And most of them coming from the concentration camps in France, where men and women with children were separated, unexpectedly bringing a lot of reunions, producing dramatic and emotional scenes.

Interestingly developed characters, also involve a prominent Chilean family with the daughter Ofelia, who takes an integral part in this story, and delves into the strict class division. It also brings the historical figure of Pablo Neruda, poet, who defines himself as the voice of long-suffering people, and who charters a ship, the SS Winnipeg, giving some people hope. His influential approach in uniting and uplifting people helps the candidacy of Salvador Allende in presidential campaign, but it also leads to a very turbulent time for Chile.

The story touchingly begins with historical background of the Spanish Civil War. And further explores the conflicts of social ideologies through both upheavals in Spain and Chile. It doesn’t bring descriptive gruesome scenes, and yet, it evokes human emotions and convincingly presents the dramatic time in history. It also brings human exploration, and what a difference we can make. The subject of the refugees continues to be timeless, the resistance toward them, because it invites the unknown. And yet historically, they prove to have a positive influence, like the ones who landed at the shores of Chile. Those who weren’t supposed to be among refugees such as artists, and intellectuals have “enriched the country with a wide range of talent, knowledge, and culture.” They raised “Chilean society from its slumbers.”

Beautifully woven story of timeless social conflicts, with protagonists who are exiled, searching for a place to belong.

Released in 2020

Publisher: Ballantine Books