The White House this week named 19 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, including Isabel Allende, author of The House of the Spirits and 20 other titles.
"I look forward to presenting these nineteen bold, inspiring Americans with our Nation’s highest civilian honor," said President Barack Obama. "From activists who fought for change to artists who explored the furthest reaches of our imagination; from scientists who kept America on the cutting edge to public servants who help write new chapters in our American story, these citizens have made extraordinary contributions to our country and the world."
Allende's works have been translated into 35 languages and her books have sold some 65 million copies. She received the National Literary Award in Chile, where she was born, and she is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Allende is known for her work in the magical realism genre. Other books by her include: The Porcelain Fat Lady, Of Love and Shadows, Daughter of Fortune and Island Beneath the Sea.
