The massive crowds that attend Isabel Allende's lectures and readings—and the standing ovations that follow—are a testament to the impact her body of work has had on generations of readers. A native of Chile, she was forced into exile following the assassination of her uncle, President Salvador Allende. Since then, she has become a true romantic and social activist and one of our great novelists, "that rare writer," Entertainment Weekly proclaims," whose understanding of story matches her mastery of language."

Allende's works chronicle the human condition in all its joy, beauty, pain and sorrow. Her 17 books, written in various genres, including memoir, historic and political fiction, young adult novels and short stories, have been translated into 30 languages, and have sold over 51,000,000 copies worldwide. Her bestselling novels include The House of the Spirits, Of Love and Shadows, Paula, Zorro, and the Oprah pick, Daughter of Fortune; each one showcases her astonishing historical and emotional range as a writer. In her memoir, My Invented Country, Allende delves into the social mores and idiosyncrasies of her native land, and muse, Chile. Ines of My Soul, her latest book, is a historical novel about the conquest of Chile, based on the life of a woman who, with her lover, built the city of Santiago.

The Los Angeles Times has called Isabel Allende "a genius," and she has received many international awards, including the prestigious Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize, granted to a writer "who has contributed to the beauty of the world." She is also the founder of the Isabel Allende Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting programs that promote and preserve the fundamental rights of women and children to be empowered and protected.

Isabel Allende's literary excellence is matched only by her ability to grip an audience with her dramatic flare, her wit and her charm. Offering insights into life, love and social activism, Allende weaves a sense of occasion, leaving audiences knowing they have spent time in the presence of one of the greats. You can experience in person the imagination that has made her one of the foremost novelists in the world. The magical realism of her novels comes alive when you hear her speak. Allende has dazzled audiences with the rich texture, complex narratives and sheer sensuousness of her writing. In person she exhibits the same unique combination of acute sensitivity to social and political conditions, passionate romance and impressive flights of imagination as she does on the page. Her compelling readings and live interaction will give you an unforgettable insight into the mind and heart of someone whose creative gifts defy classification. Like her books, Isabel Allende captivates as she creates a canvas onto which she paints some of the most memorable characters and stories in modern literature.