Hija de la fortuna

Five things after reading “Daughter of Fortune”

1. I found this story, rich with mystical detail and magical characters, masterful and so much fun to read.
2. Eliza cleverly reinvents herself, as do several of this novel’s characters, in the spirit of all that embodied early California and the Gold Rush Era.
3. The goodness of human nature and the inevitable evil forces are found here in equal measure, yet goodness prevails.
4. The spirituality of Tao was a big draw for me. I found his character most inspiring.
5. Eliza finds her freedom and what a journey!

One of my favorite things about this interesting, enjoyable read is the way Allende sprinkles hints of the future throughout the novel. These whispers of contentment, joy, and connection for the characters provide hope that sustains the reader throughout their travails.

A spell-binding tale following Eliza, a young woman coming of age in a privileged English family in mid-19th century Valparaiso, Chile. Becoming enamored of a poor revolutionary who sails off to seek his fortune during the California Gold Rush, she stows aboard a merchant vessel to find him. Along the way she meets a curious and helpful Chinese zhong yi [doctor of Eastern medicine] and many other fascinating degenerates and reprobates, some kind-hearted, some not. Her many adventures seeking word of her lover are possible only because she disguises herself as a male, and thus experiences a previously impossible freedom.

Allende excels not only in building character, but also in building a scene: under her pen with its accumulation of observation, the cacaphonous landscape and diverse population of San Francisco, constructing itself during the gold rush, comes alive; as well as the milieu of the merchant class in seafaring Valparaiso. It’s a rich read and a good escape.

I found Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende an enjoyable read that was filled with rich characters and told an excellent historical story that was captivating and interesting. The book opens in the British colony of Valparaiso, Chile and the story is about the orphaned Eliza who is taken in by the very British Victorian spinster Miss Rose and her rigid brother, Jeremy. Eliza grows to be both at home in the proper English drawing room and in the kitchen, as much of her upbringing was left to the Indian servant woman, Mama Fresia. All runs smoothly until Eliza meets and falls in love with Joaquin Andieta, a young Chilean man who, when he hears about the discovery of gold in California, heads off to build a better life for both himself and his poverty-stricken mother. When Eliza discovers that she is pregnant, she runs away to find him.

Eliza befriends a Chinese physician, Tao Chi’en who helps her to stow away to California. They build a solid friendship. He disguises Eliza as a Chinese youth which enables her to travel to the gold fields in search of Joaquin. Tao Chi’en builds a life for himself in San Francisco, while Eliza, still disguised as a boy, plays the piano at a brothel. She learnsto love the freedom her disguise gives her. Years pass and her step-mother Rose, and her uncles Jeremy and John come to California to find Eliza.

Well written and engaging, Daughter of Fortune was a historical adventure story with a great deal of scope. I was fascinated by the South American connection and intrigued by how vivid and real the story became. By using the themes of both obsession and freedom, the author has captured the turbulent days of the California Gold Rush.

Wide-spanning historical set in Chile and California around the time of the Gold Rush. Eliza turns up as an infant on the doorstep of a well-to-do British brother-sister duo in Valparaíso and is brought up in their household. She falls in love as the Gold Rush begins only for her love interest to head off to California. She decides to accompany him, and in the process she meets a cast of characters in the 1840s American West.

This was the first of Isabel Allende's books that I've read, and I'm definitely glad I did so. For assorted reasons (some content-related, some style-related), this book reminded me a bit of The Luminaries and East of Eden, both of which are good things from my perspective. It's been a while since I read this sweeping of a story, and I'm definitely glad I did so. I can definitely see why Allende is so well-regarded, and I definitely plan to pick up more of her writing in the future.

Very good historical fiction literature set mostly during the gold rush in California. The coming-of-age story about a young Chilean girl that travels to San Francisco. It was interesting to read about the different cultures in San Fran in the mid-1800s.

I do love a good historical fiction tale and Isabel Allende is a master of the genre so this was good read for me. I learned quite a lot about the California gold rush and even more about Chinese medicine which has been practised for quite a bit longer than western medicine.

Eliza Sommers was left as an infant on the doorstep of an English trader in Valparaiso Chile. Jeremy Sommers was a bachelor but lived with his sister Rose. Rose and Mama Fresia, the Chilean who supervised their household, raised Eliza between them. From Rose Eliza learned how to be a proper English lady but from Mama Fresia she learned about cooking and baking and healing with native herbs. When Eliza was just starting to notice men into her life came a poor clerk from Jeremy Sommers company. Joaquin Andieta was full of revolutionary ideas and had the heart of a poet. Of course Eliza fell madly in love with him. Secretly they met and made love. When the news of the 1849 California gold rush reached Valparaiso Joaquin saw this as his way to rise out of poverty so he could marry Eliza. Shortly after he left Eliza discovered she was pregnant. Confiding in Mama Fresia they found a way for Eliza to smuggle aboard a ship bound for California. The cook on the ship, Tao Chi'en, was persuaded to take her aboard and hide her in the hold. Tao Chi'en was not just a cook though; in Canton, China he had been trained as a physician, a zhong yi. When his aged mentor died Tao Chi'en left Canton for Hong Kong where he became quite renownes. He even had an English physician as a friend as so he learned about Western medicine as well. One evening he was shanghaied aboard a sailing ship on which he served for two years. When his contract ended he was in Valparaiso and so came into contact with Eliza. That was a fortuitous meeting for both of them. Eliza, especially, was lucky to have Tao Chi'en to look after her when she had a miscarriage and nearly died on board. They stayed together for a while in San Francisco but Eliza was determined to find her lover so she travelled to the gold fields. She saw the lure gold had on the thousands who had travelled to California but she was never interested herself in trying to find gold. She also managed to avoid the fate of most of the other women there at that time by dressing as a boy and claiming to be Joaquin's younger brother. Tales of a highwayman named Joaquin spread like wildfire and Eliza travelled all over during the summer months trying to find him to see if it was her Joaquin. Meanwhile Tao Chi'en practised medicine. When he came into contact with the young Chinese girls serving in the brothels he was so upset at their condition that he decided to save as many as he could. Eliza and Tao Chi'en maintained communication through the somewhat unstable mail system. Eventually Eliza joined Tao in San Francisco and helped him in his endeavours but she continued to pursue all leads to Joaquin. It is clear to the reader that Eliza and Tao have more than just friendly feelings for each other but they are both in thrall to the memory of their lost loves.

I've read five other books by Allende. Not all of them are historical fiction but I think those are the ones I like the best. According to Wikipedia she has written 21 books; I think I'll have to read some more.

I just adore Isabel Allende's books. This one has been sitting in my bookcase for much too long. I finally pulled it out to fill one of the categories for this year's Book Riot Read Harder Challenge. I'm so glad I did.

I really liked Eliza and Tao-Chien, both people who went against the cultures in which they were raised to make lives of their own making.

Really enjoyed reading this - and the main characters. A fascinating collection of vignettes, woven together.

This was the first book to introduce me to Isabel Allende. There was of course no better introduction. The novel feels like the dank, swaying cabin on a boat. A boat like the one Eliza travels in from Chile to California. The gold dust currents lead Eliza into a journey that will lead her to the underbelly of 19th-century San Francisco--and into the arms of an unlikely man.

*4.5 stars*

At first I was a little unsure whether I would enjoy this book as it is not the usual genre that I read, but all my doubts were quickly swept away by Isabel Allende’s wonderful storytelling.

It is set in the British colony of Valpraiso, in 1840’s Chile and begins in a humorous way by telling us Eliza Sommers two talents: a sense of smell and a good memory. By the end of the book I discovered that Eliza’s character had grown so much that these two meager talents have increased tenfold.

Eliza is an orphan who was found on the doorstep, raised by Miss Rose, a Victorian spinster with a hidden past, her starchy brother Jeremy, and an Indian servant, Mama Fresia. Much to the family’s dismay she falls in love with Joaquín Andieta, an unsuitable young man from a poor family, with political ideals that are at odds with the state. Eliza without a thought to consequence, gives herself to this young man, drugging the household, so they will not hear their passionate lovemaking. She is disconsolate when she finds that he intends to go to California to make his fortune in gold. She can do nothing to stop him. He, like so many others is obsessed by the vision of gold, and wealth. Her lover takes off for San Francisco leaving her behind broken hearted. Eliza discovers that she is pregnant with his child, and decides that she has no other alternative left but to follow him.

Eliza hides in the hold of a ship bound for California. She becomes ill and is attended to by Tao, a Chinese doctor. Tao began his sailor’s life after being shanghaied. He had been drinking to forget his sorrow at the sad death of his young, beautiful wife Lin. On board ship his wife’s delicate ghost comes to him when he is administering to Eliza and berates him for not doing his utmost to save her. He is so distressed by this ghostly vision of his wife that he does everything in his power to help Eliza. Eliza has a miscarriage but survives and escapes from the ship dressed in male clothing. She continues to pretend that she is male to blend in and safeguard her safety. In this land driven crazy by gold fever, single men and prostitutes make up the population. She has no wish to become a prostitute so she chooses to adopt a masculine persona. In this new world she finds freedom from the restraints of her life as a woman living in a British household in Chile. In time she discovers that her first love Joaquin is but a distant memory and that the kindness of Tao enriches her life in ways that Joaquin never did.

Daughter of Fortune has several strengths, her characterisation is excellent, I particularly enjoyed her portrayal of several female characters: Miss Rose, even though she is constrained by female niceties knows how to get what she wants. Paulina manipulates her husband to get her own bank account and eventually buys a steam ship and becomes a wealthy business woman. Though Tao’s wife Lin is described as being weak her ghost manages to find him across the vast expanse of ocean and convinces him to help Eliza.

I also really enjoyed how Allende played with her characters: the intimidating giant Babula the Bad is really a good guy, with a soft side. In Eliza’s case this transformation is even more marked, as if she is rediscovering herself in stages as the adventure unfolds. She pretends to be a deaf-mute Chinese boy and then the brother of her Chilean lover, and finally she rediscovers her female identity, but this female is no longer chained by layers of corsetry but free to be herself.

Also Tao’s character transforms from his humble start as fourth son to respected Chinese doctor. He learns that his delicate young wife with golden lilies for feet only brings him a fleeting happiness, cut short by her early death, whereas Eliza with her big feet and sturdy body will give him many years of companionship and love.

There are passages in the novel that are gut wrenchingly sad, the death of Lin is difficult to read as it is so heartfelt. But there is also a sense that life is a journey of discovery, with many possibilities open to us.

If I have any criticisms of the novel they are few and far between. There were possibly times when I thought that some of the descriptions were slightly long but overall I didn’t find that this bothered me. Early on in the novel it was mentioned that Eliza thought that Miss Rose and Mr Todd would make a good couple but this didn’t happen. I would have preferred to find this out myself rather than being told it.

Overall I really enjoyed the book, I think in part due to the diverse characters, the cultural references and the skill of Allende’s writing. The final chapter didn’t disappoint. By the end of the tale Joaquin had become her past, a hazy reflection of the young man that she had adored and Eliza was looking forward rather than back, to a new beginning.

Daughter of Fortune is the story of Eliza Sommers, a nineteenth century woman raised in the home of a well-to-do brother and sister in Valparaiso, Chile. The first part of the book takes place in Chile. The second part is set in San Francisco during the California gold rush.

Isabel Allende's writing is beautiful and accessible. She writes from inside the heads of her characters, making them real and sympathetic. Here's a sample from a letter Eliza is writing to her “faithful friend, the sage Tao Chi'en”:

"I am finding new strength in myself; I may always have had it and just didn't know because I'd never had to call on it. I don't know at what turn in the road I shed the person I used to be, Tao. Now I am only one of thousands of adventurers scattered along the banks of these crystal-clear rivers and among the foothills of these eternal mountains. Here men are proud, with no one above them but the sky overhead; they bow to no one because they are inventing equality. And I want to be one of them. Some are winners with sacks of gold slung over their backs; some, defeated, carry nothing but disillusion and debts, but they all believe they are masters of their destiny, of the ground they walk on, of the future, of their own undeniable dignity.”

The story is Eliza's, which brings me to my single complaint. I felt too much time was spent on the backgrounds of some of the other characters. I thought Rose's background was necessary, because she raised Eliza and understanding her baggage was critical to understanding the choices she made. I also though Joaquin's story was important, because Eliza's relationship with him was the force that drove her forward during most of the book. However, I thought there was too much time spent on Tao's background and Jacob Todd's story was almost entirely unnecessary. There were intriguing parts in those sections, but I believe tightening them would have advanced the plot just as much without slowing the story.

Overall, Daughter of Fortune was a very good read. I intend to read the sequel, Portrait in Sepia.

Steve Lindahl – author of Motherless Soul, White Horse Regressions, Hopatcong Vision Quest, and Under a Warped Cross.

I wanted to like this book much more than I actually did (in fact if this site had half star rating system I would have given it 2.5 stars). It has all the makings of a good story, but gets bogged down in extraneous details and tangents before ending abruptly - leaving quite a few story lines unresolved. It was, at times, an incredibly frustrating read for me.

According to Aunt Rose, Eliza was a foundling found on the doorstep of sister and brother Rose and Jeremy Sommers' home in Chile. Although not formally adopted, the Sommers, including the two's brother, John, a ship's captain, chose to raise the child. The family was well-offer compared to the indigenous Indians and offered Eliza a cultural upbringing. Growing to be a beautiful young lady, she falls in love with Joaquin, an employee of her Uncle Jeremy's shipping warehouse and Eliza looks forward to her marriage. However, when gold was discovered in California, this discovery drew many men around the world hoping to make a fortune, including Joaquin. After several months absence, Eliza decides to sneak aboard a ship headed north to find and marry Joaquin.

As with her other work, Allende tells a good story populated with well-fleshed out characters. I have never read anything about California's early history and the gold rush and I found Allende's description of life during the mid-19th century accurately detailed.

Eliza Sommers wächst bei einer englischen Familie in Chile auf. Rose Sommers hat sie als Waise in ihrem Haus aufgenommen und erzieht sie nun dort, unter mithilfe der Köchin, nach den Vorbildern der chilenischen und englischen Kulturen.
Eliza ist ein aufmerksames Mädchen, hat einen feinen Geruchssinn und ist offen für das Lernen und das Leben. Doch dies ändert sich schlagartig, als sie Joaquin kennen und lieben lernt. In dem Wahn der ersten Liebe verfällt sie ihm komplett und als er dann wegen des Goldrausches nach Kalifornien reist, beschließt sie kurzerhand ihm zu folgen. Mithilfe des Schiffskochs Tao kann sie sich in das gelobte Land schmuggeln und beginnt nun dort eine unermüdliche Suche nach ihrem Geliebten.

Der Roman von Isabel Allende beschreibt den Wandel eines Mädchens zu einer selbständig denkenden Frau. Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts, in dem die Handlung stattfindet, waren Frauen lediglich schmückendes Beiwerk für die Männer. Das war nicht nur in Südamerika der Fall, sondern auch in vielen verschiedenen Breiten der Erde. Eine Frau, die selbständig dachte und ihr eigenes Geld verdienen wollte, verlor an Achtung. Dieser Roman greift dieses Thema auf und zeigt das Leben einer starken Frau, die durch alle Wirrungen geht, um ihre Ziele zu erreichen.
Doch die Autorin bleibt nicht nur an der Seite Elizas, sondern beschreibt auch die Lebenswege der anderen Figuren. So führt sie den Leser in die chilenische Kultur, die englischen Sitten über die chinesische Ruhe bis hin zum brutalen und frevelhaften Treiben der Goldgräber.

Oft schweift die Autorin ab. Auf der einen Seite bekommen die Charaktere Struktur und Hintergrund. Auf der anderen Seite sind die zufälligen Verflechtungen von Menschen, die sich über Kontinente hinweg immer wieder begegnen ein wenig sehr gehäuft. Auch die Suche nach Joaquin zieht sich in die Länge. Die Goldgräberstätten und die Gewohnheiten der Menschen werde in aller Ausführlichkeit beschrieben. Dennoch liest man immer weiter und weiter, völlig mitgerissen, trotz der 700 Seiten (zumindest in der rowohlt-Ausgabe). Auch wenn es am Ende ein wenig stockt und das Finale recht unvollendet scheint, so findet Eliza doch zu sich selbst und der Leser beschließt das Buch mit einem guten Gefühl.

A solid historical fiction piece with a strong, independent-minded heroine set against the wonderful backdrop of 19th century Chile and the California Gold Rush of 1849. This story has all of the trappings of a satisfying historical fiction read: solid grounding in historical facts; interesting multi-faceted characters; vividly drawn backdrops of Chile, Canton, China and California; a wonderful ethnic mix English, Chinese, Chilean, Mexican and Americans; and steady pacing for the adventure the reader embarks upon with young Eliza. This one has all other qualities of an epic read with a lighter touch… I didn’t feel as though I was being dragged through some sweeping saga, like I do with some epic reads. Allende keeps the story grounded with the focus trained on her handful of key characters, given a more intimate, personal impression of the historically expansive California Gold Rush and the three continents the story is set in.

A delightful historical fiction read and I now understand why Allende is considered to be such a gifted novelist.

Allende's writing is so fluid and evocative that even parts of pure narration are irresistible. Protagonist Eliza Sommers is irrepressible, brave, loyal, and convincing in every way she needs to be. This book was just a pleasure to read!

This was an engaging story with strong likeable characters. Set in 1850s Valparaiso, China, and California, it follows the course of a young Chilean girl who runs off with the help of a Chinese doctor to follow her lover to the gold fields and boom towns of California. The setting and the characters were much stronger than the actual story, which wandered quite a bit and left me wondering which (if any) of the people would find each other again. However, there was plenty of interest to keep me reading.

I read this one in Spanish and found it easy to follow without a dictionary, though occasionally I could have used one. The narration was straightforward and linear, unlike a lot of Spanish language modern novels.

Loved it. But it seemed to end very abruptly. LIke she tired of the story and just wound it up. I wanted to know what happens next and there is no next.

4.5****
Audio book performed by Blair Brown.

This is an historical novel set during the mid-19th century and taking the reader from South America to China to California during the Gold Rush. The story begins in Valparaiso, Chile, where a baby is left on the doorstep of wealthy British importers. Raised as their child, Eliza Sommers is now a young lady and her family begins to screen available young men to find the perfect suitor. But Eliza has a mind of her own. She falls for a handsome, fiery clerk – Joaquin Andieta – and they become lovers. Six weeks after he leaves for California to make his fortune and prepare the way for her, Eliza discovers she is pregnant. With the help of Tao Chi’en, a Chinese shipboard cook, she stows away on a ship bound for San Francisco and disappears from her family’s lives.

This is a sweeping historical epic full of interesting and varied characters and situations. At the core is a search for self, and a look at the roles society assigns to men and women. Allende weaves a seductive story, keeping the reader guessing as to what may happen next. As we careen from adventure to adventure the plot does get a little over-the-top in places, but I forgive Allende her excesses because it’s just such a darn good yarn! I was captivated and enthralled. And I love the ending!

Blair Brown does a wonderful job narrating this epic. There are a lot of characters to keep straight, though most scenes involve only two or three at one time. Her pacing was good, her pronunciation of Spanish names and words perfect, and she kept me totally immersed in the story.

I loved this book, and I love this author. She is a great story-teller and was able to successfully connect Chilean history with US history. I enjoy learning when I read, and this book allowed me to do so, while transporting me throughout the story, the characters and their lives.

Young Chiilean girl follows her lover to the gold fields of California. Eliza has been adopted by a wealthy sister and brother and lived a pampered life. With the aid of "celestial" she is a stowaway of a ship, and barely survived. She crosses paths with Tao multiple times in her search for her lover. Good portrayal of the free wheeling days of the 49ers.

Daughter of Fortune is a well written historical novel set in Valparaiso, Chile and California in the 1820s the 50s, as well as in Canton. The novel tells the story of Eliza, a foundling raised by a seemingly staid English woman who has taken her in, and by the woman's reluctant elder brother, a paragon of English Victorian industry and virtue. Their other brother is a rough-hewn ship's captain who comes to visit as his voyages allow. With these surrogate relatives Eliza learns to become a well-mannered English maiden. Other elements of her nature, a keen connection to the natural world and a love of the practical arts, are nurtured by the family's native Chilean cook. Eliza's education into the ways of English womanly virtue is interrupted by first love. And here the adventure begins. With the aid of her wits and the help of a Chinese healer she makes her way to San Francisco to find her lover who has gone to California to make it rich in the Gold Rush. As Eliza matures she learns more about what love is, and isn't, learns to rely on her own talents to survive and become successful, something she had been taught was impossible for a lady.

My only qualms, some parts seemed repetitive. Some parts seemed didactic, too many history lessons interrupting the narrative. I suppose for those who aren't well versed in American history this might be helpful.

Chilean "orphan''s girl's story, mid 1800's, california gold rush, very good. LMIC August

reminded me to much of signature of all things by elizabeth gilbert. didnt finish

The book is best when it follows Eliza Sommers. The backstories of Rose Sommers, Karl Bretzner, and Tao Chi'en stop the natural flow of things and just drag down an otherwise wondeful book.

The story picks up speed when Eliza reaches California. The Chilean part takes too long to establish characters and motivation.

*4.5 stars*

At first I was a little unsure whether I would enjoy this book as it is not the usual genre that I read, but all my doubts were quickly swept away by Isabel Allende’s wonderful storytelling.

It is set in the British colony of Valpraiso, in 1840’s Chile and begins in a humorous way by telling us Eliza Sommers two talents: a sense of smell and a good memory. By the end of the book I discovered that Eliza’s character had grown so much that these two meager talents have increased tenfold.

Eliza is an orphan who was found on the doorstep, raised by Miss Rose, a Victorian spinster with a hidden past, her starchy brother Jeremy, and an Indian servant, Mama Fresia. Much to the family’s dismay she falls in love with Joaquín Andieta, an unsuitable young man from a poor family, with political ideals that are at odds with the state. Eliza without a thought to consequence, gives herself to this young man, drugging the household, so they will not hear their passionate lovemaking. She is disconsolate when she finds that he intends to go to California to make his fortune in gold. She can do nothing to stop him. He, like so many others is obsessed by the vision of gold, and wealth. Her lover takes off for San Francisco leaving her behind broken hearted. Eliza discovers that she is pregnant with his child, and decides that she has no other alternative left but to follow him.

Eliza hides in the hold of a ship bound for California. She becomes ill and is attended to by Tao, a Chinese doctor. Tao began his sailor’s life after being shanghaied. He had been drinking to forget his sorrow at the sad death of his young, beautiful wife Lin. On board ship his wife’s delicate ghost comes to him when he is administering to Eliza and berates him for not doing his utmost to save her. He is so distressed by this ghostly vision of his wife that he does everything in his power to help Eliza. Eliza has a miscarriage but survives and escapes from the ship dressed in male clothing. She continues to pretend that she is male to blend in and safeguard her safety. In this land driven crazy by gold fever, single men and prostitutes make up the population. She has no wish to become a prostitute so she chooses to adopt a masculine persona. In this new world she finds freedom from the restraints of her life as a woman living in a British household in Chile. In time she discovers that her first love Joaquin is but a distant memory and that the kindness of Tao enriches her life in ways that Joaquin never did.

Daughter of Fortune has several strengths, her characterisation is excellent, I particularly enjoyed her portrayal of several female characters: Miss Rose, even though she is constrained by female niceties knows how to get what she wants. Paulina manipulates her husband to get her own bank account and eventually buys a steam ship and becomes a wealthy business woman. Though Tao’s wife Lin is described as being weak her ghost manages to find him across the vast expanse of ocean and convinces him to help Eliza.

I also really enjoyed how Allende played with her characters: the intimidating giant Babula the Bad is really a good guy, with a soft side. In Eliza’s case this transformation is even more marked, as if she is rediscovering herself in stages as the adventure unfolds. She pretends to be a deaf-mute Chinese boy and then the brother of her Chilean lover, and finally she rediscovers her female identity, but this female is no longer chained by layers of corsetry but free to be herself.

Also Tao’s character transforms from his humble start as fourth son to respected Chinese doctor. He learns that his delicate young wife with golden lilies for feet only brings him a fleeting happiness, cut short by her early death, whereas Eliza with her big feet and sturdy body will give him many years of companionship and love.

There are passages in the novel that are gut wrenchingly sad, the death of Lin is difficult to read as it is so heartfelt. But there is also a sense that life is a journey of discovery, with many possibilities open to us.

If I have any criticisms of the novel they are few and far between. There were possibly times when I thought that some of the descriptions were slightly long but overall I didn’t find that this bothered me. Early on in the novel it was mentioned that Eliza thought that Miss Rose and Mr Todd would make a good couple but this didn’t happen. I would have preferred to find this out myself rather than being told it.

Overall I really enjoyed the book, I think in part due to the diverse characters, the cultural references and the skill of Allende’s writing. The final chapter didn’t disappoint. By the end of the tale Joaquin had become her past, a hazy reflection of the young man that she had adored and Eliza was looking forward rather than back, to a new beginning.

Daughter of Fortune is the story of Eliza, the foundling raised in what passed for the lap of luxury in 1800's Valparaiso, Chile. She grows up the sheltered "daughter" of the unapproachable Jeremy Sommers & his spinster sister Rose, who has secrets of her own. John, their older brother & sea captain, is an integral figure in the book, but at first we only see him on the periphery. When Eliza is 16, she has an illicit affair with Joaquin Andieta, a minor employee of the company Eliza's foster father runs. When she realizes that her affair has left her pregnant, she hatches a plan with Rose's cook & housekeeper, who has been like a grandmother to her, to spirit her away from Chile & follow her lover to California, at the beginning of the Gold Rush. She nearly does not survive the trip, stowed away in the hold of a ship during the crossing, enduring a miscarriage that almost ends her life, if it wasn't for the valiant efforts of the Chinese physician Tao Chien, & a prostitute with a heart of gold.

Her adventures once she is there are a journey of discovery for Eliza, who spends the next several years dressed as a man, & mistaken for a young boy.

This is a book I very nearly couldn't put down, & finding out the family secrets made it all the more enjoyable, as you are given the barest tantalizing hints of them scattered throughout the book.

I loved it, & will definitely go back & read more of her work :)

This book took a while to get into. It follows the life of Eliza, who is an orphan in Chile taken in by a wealthy British family. The first couple chapters probably could have been cut out, since they give almost no indication of Eliza's character and focus almost entirely on the British family, who virtually disappear once the main story begins.

Eliza is a great character and the love story is engaging. The gold rush was an interesting backdrop for the novel. If you like historical fiction, you might like to read about the fictionalized trading, booming business, and strategies that built the major cities in the west. The characters were diverse and the story moved at a nice pace. It wouldn't be my first pick, but it was an enjoyable read.

It's an entertaining story, but feels like too little material (historical depth and detail, emotional resonance) stretched over too big a frame (plot points). I'm sure she did plenty of research in which to ground her novel, but none of it shows! She could very well have written the same book with no research and the same over-active imagination that produced the [overly coincidence-heavy:] plot.

People complain on Goodreads that the sequel includes "too many historical facts," but good god, y'all, this one could have used the surplus.