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Description
An orphan raised in Valparaíso, Chile, by a Victorian spinster and her rigid brother, young, vivacious Eliza Sommers follows her lover to California during the Gold Rush of 1849 -- a danger-filled quest that will become a momentous journey of transformation. In this rough-and-tumble world of... read more
Cast of Characters/Important People
- Eliza Sommers: Eliza Sommers is a headstrong, half Chilean, half English girl abandoned at birth at the home of the Sommers. She is adopted and raised in part by Rose Sommers and also by Mama Fresia, the Sommers' servant and cook. She has an excellent sense of smell and a very detailed and accurate memory.
- Rose Sommers: Incredibly beautiful, Rose Sommers never married after an affair at a young age with an opera singer ended. She has raised Eliza as her own, as though she did not wish to marry she wanted children.
- Jeremy Sommers: Jeremy is the oldest of the Sommers. He is solid and stern, taking care to never show emotion. Jeremy and Rose live together under unspoken conditions where she takes care of the house and he provides necessities.
- John Sommers: John is a captain of a ship and later a steamboat carrying supplies to California. He is a free-spirit and the "loosest" of the Sommers, enjoying good drinks and women. He travels to many places and brings back gifts for Rose and Eliza, after she is born.
- Tao Chi'en: Tao Chi'en is a shanghied zhong yi (physician) working as a cook on John Sommers ship. Once he has been dismissed from the captain's duty, Eliza comes to him to ask for him to help her follow her lover Joaqín Andieta to California. Tao Chi'en smuggles Eliza aboard a ship and keeps her there for the rest of the journey. He takes care of her when she suffers from a miscarriage and saves her life. The two remain friends for life.
- Joaquin Andieta: Joaquin is a young man who works for Jeremy Sommers, though is not known to him by name. He spends time with Jacob Todd talking about philosophy and freedom. He is a loyal and hard worker, trying his best to bring his mother into a better life. Joaquin meets Eliza when delivering something to the Sommers' house. They meet multiple times to talk which leads to an affair. When Joaquin is struck by gold fever he steals money and heads for California.
- Jacob Todd/Freemont: Jacob is brought to Chile by a bet that he couldn't sell a specific number of Bibles in 3 months. Once he arrives he is distracted by the resisting Rose Sommers and lives off of money the local church gives him for his "mission work". Once he is unveiled as a fraud, Jacob takes off with what' left of his reputation. He ends up in California working as a journalist, though no more honest, and becomes famous for his pieces, especially those on the elusive bandit Joaquin Murieta.
- Mama Fresia: Mama Fresia is the cook for the Sommers. Nobody pays much attention to her except for Eliza who benefits from her cooking skills as well as superstitions. Eventually Mama Fresia helps Eliza run away and then disappears herself.
- Joe Bonecrusher: Add a description of this character.
- Joaquin Murieta: This character is based on a true life bandit during the gold rush era.
First Sentence
Todo el mundo nace con algun talento especial y Eliza Sommers descubrio temprano que ella tenia dos: buen olfato y buena memoria.
Table of Contents
Authors & Contributors
- Isabel Allende (Author)
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