Island Beneath the Sea: A Novel Paperback – April 26, 2011

I’m an Isabel Allende fanatic and this story did not disappoint. I’m so sorry I finished it! I’ve now read all of her novels!

"Island Beneath the Sea: A Novel" by Isabel Allende is a historical fiction novel that tells the story of Zarité, a slave girl on the island of Saint-Domingue (present-day Haiti) in the late 1700s. The novel follows Zarité as she navigates the harsh realities of slavery and the struggles for freedom that lead to the Haitian Revolution.One of the strengths of the book is Allende's writing style, which is both evocative and emotional. She brings the island of Saint-Domingue to life with rich and detailed descriptions, and her characters are complex and well-developed. The story is told from Zarité's perspective and it gives an insight into the life of a woman enslaved by her inner thoughts and feelings.Another strength of the book is its historical accuracy, Allende's research on the topic is evident throughout the book, and it provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the events that led to the Haitian Revolution. The novel also deals with themes such as love, loss, and the search for freedom, it is an emotional and powerful read.Overall, "Island Beneath the Sea" is a powerful and moving novel that provides a unique perspective on the topic of slavery and the Haitian Revolution. It is a must-read for anyone interested in historical fiction and those who want to understand the complexities of the slave trade and the quest for freedom.I would rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. The book is well-written, emotional, and evocative. The characters are well-developed and the story is engaging and it offers a unique perspective on the topic of slavery and the Haitian Revolution. However, it could be a bit heavy and emotional for some readers.

sabel Allende was born in Peru and raised in Chile. Her her 2009 novel Island Beneath The Sea, translated from its original Spanish, is the story of the evolution of slavery in Saint-Dominque, modern-day Haiti. Allende, like James Michener, establishes characters so compelling that the reader becomes associated with every aspect of their lives. Like Michener's book Caribbean , Island Beneath The Sea begins with the saga of the annihilation by the Spaniards of the island's Arawak Indians followed by the establishment of slavery as the economic driver of the sugar industry throughout the Antilles.The devastation and human suffering caused by the Spanish is compounded when the French replace Spanish rule by establishing a permanent colony on Saint-Dominque. The story of the great sugar plantations and the abhorrent treatment of the slaves imported from Africa is told through the life of a slave girl, Zarite', born of an African mother and a white sailor, neither of whom she never knew.Island Beneath the Sea is a generational saga of the children of mixed black and white blood, that was so prevalent in plantation life. Young girls became the forced lovers of the plantation masters and overseers with offspring by the hundreds bought and sold in the cycle of human bondage. The story of Zarite's survival is riveting , bringing to the reader an understanding of the plantation slave culture, later imported to the American south. In broad terms, I would classify Island Beneath the Sea as a historical novel.In the early 1800s with the great slave revolts devastating the island's plantations, the slave culture of the Caribbean migrated to America. The economic driver expanded to include cotton and rice. The novel captures reality as Zarite, having been transported by circumstance from Saint Dominque ( Haiti) to New Orleans discovers that her emancipation and freedom, even in America, is a glass only half full, as an entire sub culture of mixed race ethnicity evolves and plantation life for the slave does not change.Our contemporary discourse regarding slavery, heightened by the release of the movie Lincoln, makes this novel even more timely. Throughout its pages lies the heritage of the greatest issue faced by American's transcending the 19th and 20th centuries.Isabel Allende is the author of nine novels including Ines of My Soul, Daughter of Fortune and Portrait in Sepia., all of which were New York Times best sellers. I am thankful for the introduction to Allende by my daughter much in the same way as I was grateful to a good friend for recommending Anya Seton's Winthrop Women. You too will not be disappointed!For more go to gordonsgoodreads.com

Got a copy years ago as a gift, and bought it now again, to gift it to another friend who i know will appreciate the tale, and history that came along with it..

Isabel Allende siempre es garantía de calidad.lectura muy interesante

Parfait, très bon livre, bien reçu, expédition rapide, à recommander.

Now thing to add except 15 words to more to satisfy this painful as requirement. Ìi have 15 words and it still wants more

Isabel Allende is an amazing story teller. Island Beneath the Sea will keep your interest from start to finish. The story is based on pre-Haiti French colony Saint-Domingue and it's sugar plantations run with slave labor and it's relationship to Louisiana, and the horrendous brutality people endured for freedom.