Chilean Coup and Pinochet Dictatorship, 1973–1990

On 11 September 1973 Chile’s armed forces overthrew the elected government of Salvador Allende. The presidential palace was attacked, Allende died during the coup and a military junta assumed power. General Augusto Pinochet soon became the dominant figure in the new regime.

The dictatorship closed Congress, banned or restricted political parties and used detention, torture, execution, disappearance and exile against opponents. It also introduced far-reaching market reforms that changed labour, welfare and ownership while producing both growth and severe inequality. A 1988 plebiscite rejected continued military rule, leading to civilian government in 1990.

The House of the Spirits, Of Love and Shadows, In the Midst of Winter, A Long Petal of the Sea and Violeta approach the dictatorship through families, journalists, refugees and survivors. The novels often fictionalise names while retaining recognisable institutions, violence and patterns of exile.