The third part of the novel is set during the tumultuous 1970s, a period marked by the rise of the Unidad Popular government, led by President Salvador Allende (Isabel Allende’s own uncle), and the subsequent military coup that overthrew the government and led to a brutal dictatorship. This section of the novel is particularly poignant, as it explores the personal costs of politics and the devastating impact of violence and repression on families and communities.

The novel has also been referenced in popular culture, with numerous allusions in music, film, and literature. For example, the Brazilian rock band, Titãs, wrote a song titled “Casa dos Espíritos” in 1988, while the Chilean writer, Roberto Bolaño, referenced the novel in his own work.

The narrative is divided into four parts, each covering a distinct period in Chilean history. The first part introduces the reader to Esteban Trueba, a self-made man who rises to wealth and power through his mining interests. The second part explores the lives of Esteban’s children, including Blanca, who falls in love with a young man named Pedro, and her brother, Jaime, a doctor who becomes involved in the country’s burgeoning socialist movement.