Gateway to Literature attend a conversation between renowned Chilean writer Isabel Allende and educator Dr. Jill Biden

Allende is decidedly a canonical figure in Latin American letters and the world’s most widely read Spanish-language author, but it can still be difficult to show students that what we read in the classroom is relevant to today. The opportunity to listen to Allende in conversation with such a well-known American figure puts this all into perspective. Students admired Dr. Biden’s ability to connect with Allende, drawing on their shared experiences both as mothers who have lost children and as women committed to their careers: “Their mutual admiration and warmth were evident, and I found their dynamic humorous.” Furthermore, students were able to connect Allende’s literary career with her relationship to feminism. As one student observed, “Her feminist stance focuses on ending patriarchy, while still affirming that being a feminist does not mean rejecting themes like romance in literature…I was particularly struck by the way Allende spoke about her characters (strong women who fail and get back up) and how that mirrors women she surrounds herself with through her foundation, many of whom are refugees.” Moreover, Allende implied misogyny was to blame for her relegation to the post-Boom, rather than being included in the Boom.