Chapter 1 Rosa the Beautiful Summary

Clara, the youngest daughter of Severo del Valle and his wife Nívea, is born circa 1914 in a South American country that is not named in the novel but generally is understood to be a lightly fictionalized version of Chile. Clara is quite precocious and exhibits numerous signs of clairvoyance, precognition, and frequently demonstrates the ability to move objects—even large objects—with her mind. Clara receives a puppy, covered in its own filth, with a shipment of books and objects to her parents' house from her Uncle Marcos. She names the puppy Barrabás. Clara's Uncle Marcos was a sort of magician-charlatan-snake-oil-salesman rolled into one and his strange and magical tales fascinated the del Valle children. During his last visit he ordered and assembled a primitive aircraft and then flew away in it, never...