A Long Petal of the Sea: A Novel

A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende is a sweeping historical novel about war, exile, love, and the search for home.

Set during the Spanish Civil War, the story follows Roser, a pregnant young widow, and Victor Dalmau, an army doctor and brother of her late love. Forced to flee Spain after Franco’s victory, they enter a marriage of necessity and join thousands of refugees aboard the SS Winnipeg, a ship chartered by poet Pablo Neruda to carry them to Chile.

As Europe moves toward another war, Roser and Victor build a new life far from home, facing loss, hardship, political upheaval, and unexpected joy. Over the years, their relationship deepens as they discover that belonging may not always be tied to the place they left behind.

Translated from Spanish by Nick Caistor and Amanda Hopkinson

Paperback, Very Good