Portrait in Sepia - by Isabel Allende (Paperback)

About the Book

After suffering a brutal trauma, Aurora del Valle cannot remember the first five years of her life. Raised by her ambitious grandmother, the regal Paulina del Valle, she enjoys a life of privilege. Yet nothing offers protection from the horrible nightmares that torment her. When she is betrayed by the man she loves, Aurora, bereft and alone, decides to unravel the tangled mystery of her past. An epic story rich with historical detail, infused with atmosphere, and intimate in its probing of human character, Portrait in Sepia is vintage Isabel Allende: a story that illuminates the complexity of family ties and the heart of a strong and unforgettable woman.

Book Synopsis

"Spectacular story-telling . . . the author's elaborate skill in weaving intimate emotional detail into the broad canvas of history is in fantastic display." --Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A spellbinding family saga--the second in an unofficial trilogy that begins with Daughter of Fortune and ends with The House of the Spirits--from the bestselling author of A Long Petal of the Sea.

After suffering a brutal trauma, Aurora del Valle cannot remember the first five years of her life. Raised by her ambitious grandmother, the regal Paulina del Valle, she enjoys a life of privilege. Yet nothing offers protection from the horrible nightmares that torment her. When she is betrayed by the man she loves, Aurora, bereft and alone, decides to unravel the tangled mystery of her past.

An epic story rich with historical detail, infused with atmosphere, and intimate in its probing of human character, Portrait in Sepia is vintage Isabel Allende: a story that illuminates the complexity of family ties and the heart of a strong and unforgettable woman.

Review Quotes

"Rich and complex ... Allende exercises her supreme storytelling abilities ... a grand installment in an already impressive repertoire." -- Publishers Weekly (* Starred Review *)

"Complex, intriguing, ambitious ... it's Allende's remarkable flair for character that makes it all come alive." -- Kirkus

"Portrait in Sepia is rich with color and emotion and packed with intriguing characters." -- San Francisco Chronicle