A Long Petal of the Sea

by Isabel Allende

Without science, industry, and technology, no progress is possible, and without music and art, there’s no soul,” he would maintain.

Nothing, not even victory, Can wipe away the terrible hole of blood. —Pablo Neruda “Hymn to the Glory of the People at War” Offended Lands

None of them knew anything about Chile. Years later, Neruda was to define it as a long petal of sea and wine and snow…with a belt of black and white foam, but that would not have left the migrants any the wiser. On the map, it looked slender and remote.

Roser never gave in to the sentimental attitude of many exiles, refusing to look back or idealize a Spain that no longer existed. There was a reason why they had left. Her resolute sense of reality saved her from frustrated desires, pointless reproaches, deep regrets, and the vice of constantly complaining.

He had never believed their love would prosper, because as Roser indicated from the start, it was a plant without roots that was bound to wither. Nothing can grow in the shade of secrets, she would say, love needs light and space to flourish.

The operation to silence the country, directed from the U.S. embassy, was precise and efficient. Censorship began at once.

Going around in a sulk will get you nowhere. Pain is unavoidable, but suffering is optional.”