logo

49 pages 1 hour read

Eva Luna

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1987

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Isabel Allende, Transl. Margaret Sayers Peden

Eva Luna

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1987
Book Details
Pages

368

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Unnamed Latin American Country • Mid-20th Century

Publication Year

1987

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Eva Luna by Isabel Allende, translated by Margaret Sayers Peden, follows the life of Eva Luna, an orphaned storyteller, navigating her way through a series of transformative adventures in an unnamed South American country amidst political upheaval. Eva's journey intertwines with a cast of vibrant characters, highlighting themes of love, resilience, and revolution over several decades. The novel includes mentions of abuse, including child abuse and sexual abuse, and contains descriptions of death by suicide.

Emotional

Inspirational

Fantastical

Mysterious

Romantic

Reviews & Readership

4.1

56,226 ratings

73%

Loved it

22%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Eva Luna by Isabel Allende and translated by Margaret Sayers Peden is celebrated for its rich, imaginative storytelling and vibrant characters. Reviewers commend its lyrical prose and vivid portrayal of Latin American culture. However, some criticize the narrative’s pacing and occasional melodrama. Overall, it's praised as a compelling, magical realist novel with a strong protagonist.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Eva Luna?

Readers who enjoy The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende or One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez will find Eva Luna captivating. This novel appeals to those who appreciate richly woven tales blending magic realism, complex characters, and socio-political themes in Latin American settings.

4.1

56,226 ratings

73%

Loved it

22%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Character List

Eva Luna

A gifted storyteller and the protagonist of the novel, whose vividly imaginative perspective shapes her journey from a working-class background to a life enriched by her narratives and friendships.

Eva's parallel love interest and a skilled news reporter who uses his experiences to shed light on social injustices, revealing an intricate blend of rationality and dreaminess.

A friend and lover of Eva who becomes involved with a guerrilla revolutionary movement and personifies a spirit of political change amidst personal complexities.

Eva’s closest friend, a trans woman with remarkable resilience who becomes a celebrated actress, supporting Eva in their shared hopes and personal pursuits.

Eva’s mother, who fills Eva’s early life with love and stories, instilling in her daughter the notion that storytelling is a crucial means of survival.

The cook at Eva’s first employer’s home, who acts as Eva’s nurturing grandmother-like figure and imparts valuable life lessons about strength and integrity.

The cook at Professor Jones's house who becomes Eva's guardian, her life marred by personal hardships and societal cruelty, reflecting the harshness of her world.

Book Details
Pages

368

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Unnamed Latin American Country • Mid-20th Century

Publication Year

1987

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.