This epic tale, based on life of Dona Ines Suarez (1507 - 1580) takes in the sweep of the early history of Chile, the founding of the city of Santiago and earthy details of a harsh time. Allende doesn't flinch at depicting the brutality of the conquistadors. It's a dramatic tale, sweeping in scope, of an extraordinary woman -- a poor seamstress who heads to the New World in search of a wayward and, as it turns out, dead husband and ends up making it big.  (CHI73, $14.95)