🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende was born on 2nd August 1942 in Lima, Peru. Isabel’s parents, Tomás who was government representative of Chile and Francisca Llona Barros divorced when she was only three. Isabel moved to Santiago with her mother after the divorce. In Santiago, Chile she was raised in the home of her grandparents. Her grandmother had an interest in fortune-telling and astrology. She also told other stories. All these made a lasting impression on Isabel. The house was full with books which she was allowed to read. At age 16, Allende graduated from a private high school. Three years after her graduation, she got married to her 1st husband Miguel Frías who was an engineer. While in Santiago, Allende worked in the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization as a secretary for many years.
All Book Series by Isabel Allende
My Name Is Emilia del Valle
Latest in the series · book 16 of 16 · published 2025
Aphrodite: A Memoir of Senses
Latest in the series · book 2 of 2 · published 1998
Paths of Resistance
Series opener · book 1 of 7 · published 1989 Co-authored · Gore Vidal,Charles McCarry
My Invented Country: A Nostalgic Journey Through Chile
Book 5 of 7 · published 2003
Story Telling: A Writing Life
Latest in the series · book 7 of 7 · published 2026
Best Women's Erotica 2002
Series opener · book 1 of 13 · published 2001 Anthology · Marcy Sheiner
Best Women's Erotica 2007
Book 4 of 13 · published 2006 Anthology · Teresa Noelle Roberts,Susie Hara,Violet Blue
Best of Best Women's Erotica 2
Book 8 of 13 · published 2010 Anthology · Violet Blue
Best Women's Erotica 2012
Book 10 of 13 · published 2011 Anthology · Violet Blue
Best Women's Erotica 2013
Book 11 of 13 · published 2012 Anthology · Violet Blue
Best Women's Erotica 2014
Book 12 of 13 · published 2013 Anthology · Laila Blake,Violet Blue
Best Women's Erotica 2015
Latest in the series · book 13 of 13 · published 2014 Anthology · Violet Blue
The Penguin Book of Latin American Short Stories
Series opener · book 1 of 11 · published 1992
Short Stories by Latin American Women: The Magic and the Real
Book 3 of 11 · published 2003
Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Nineteenth Annual Collection
Book 6 of 11 · published 2006
Magical Sites: Women Travelers in 19th Century Latin America
Book 7 of 11 · published 2010
Pen America: A Journal for Writers and Readers: 14 The Good Books
Book 8 of 11 · published 2011
Better Than Fiction: True Travel Tales From Great Fiction Writers
Book 9 of 11 · published 2012
Writers: Their Lives and Works
Latest in the series · book 11 of 11 · published 2018
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Isabel Allende?
Isabel Allende was born on 2nd August 1942 in Lima, Peru. Isabel’s parents, Tomás who was government representative of Chile and Francisca Llona Barros divorced when she was only three. Isabel moved to Santiago with her mother after the divorce.
Which Isabel Allende series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Best of Best Women's Erotica series, the earliest of Isabel Allende's multi-book series: it opens with Best Women's Erotica 2002 (2001) and runs to 13 books across 2001–2014, ending with Best Women's Erotica 2015 (2014). Isabel Allende's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.
How many books has Isabel Allende written?
Isabel Allende has 58 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1982 and 2026. 20 of them belong to 4 named series — the largest being the Best of Best Women's Erotica series with 13 books — and 38 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should Isabel Allende's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Isabel Allende's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Daughter Of Fortune (1999–2001, 2 books), Best of Best Women's Erotica (2001–2014, 13 books) and City Of The Beasts (2002–2004, 3 books), plus 1 more.
How are Isabel Allende's books organised into series?
This guide splits Isabel Allende's 58 books into 4 named series and 38 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Best of Best Women's Erotica (13 books, 2001–2014); City Of The Beasts (3 books, 2002–2004); Daughter Of Fortune (2 books, 1999–2001); Perla (2 books, 2024–2025).