From reviews of the first edition:

". . . Allende has led a life full of drama, passion, and history—one that is a novela in its own right. Now a book, Conversations with Isabel Allende, gives fans the inside story as told by Allende herself. . . . This is worthwhile reading for anyone who wants to know what makes a good writer tick."

—Latina

"Notoriously cavalier about the lines between fact, memory, and the storyteller's urge to keep the listener going, Allende embellishes or withholds wherever she pleases. Serious subjects are discussed and dealt with seriously, but there is plenty of laughter and evidence of the woman's appealing optimism and sense of play, whimsy, and charm."

—Bloomsbury Review

"[This] is a rich, entertaining, and informative look at the life-in-progress and work of an extraordinary woman."

—Virginia Quarterly Review

"[Readers] will find themselves enthralled with the fascinating story of a politically committed and dedicated writer, mother, and wife."

—School Library Journal

"Her fans will love the Isabel who comes across so well spoken here."

—Booklist

This revised edition has been updated to cover Allende's three newest books—City of the Beasts, Portrait in Sepia: A Novel, and Daughter of Fortune. It includes four new interviews in which Allende discusses completing her trilogy of novels that began with House of the Spirits, as well as her ongoing spiritual adventure and political interests.