My True Story, Isabel Preysler’s autobiography, is already in bookstores, and the content of its sixteen chapters has not disappointed. The Filipino socialite had announced that the book aimed to “put an end once and for all to the false myths that have been circulating about her for years,” and that objective has been achieved, above all in its last pages: those devoted to her eight-year romantic relationship with her most recent known partner, Mario Vargas Llosa.
Beyond her early years in her homeland or her arrival in Spain at eighteen to distance herself from a man with a reputation as a playboy who did not please her parents, the episodes of her life that drew the most attention were the ones devoted to her great love stories. The ones that linked her to men as well known as Julio Iglesias, Carlos Falcó, Miguel Boyer, and the Peruvian Nobel laureate.
About the singer, she says that «our married life was limited to the postcards from the countries Julio visited», and she critiques the role as father he had with his son, Enrique Iglesias. Of the Marquis of Griñón she recalls that «we had a tense and sad conversation; we understood that our marriage had ended and our world broke into a thousand pieces», when he confessed that «Miguel [Boyer] and I had fallen in love». Although she acknowledges that the Socialist minister was the great love of her life, she does not avoid mentioning his excessive jealousy: «He had the ridiculous obsession of thinking and believing that everyone was falling in love with me».
But it is the chapter dedicated to the author of The Feast of the Goat, with whom she maintained an eight-year relationship from 2015 to 2022, that has drawn the most interest. And much of the blame lies in Isabel Preysler’s decision to include in My True Story her ardent personal correspondence with the writer. «The letters are mine and I can publish them to demonstrate that he was happy with me», the socialite assured during the Madrid presentation of her memoirs.
From Mario to Isabel: 8 Letters of Fiery Love
«It fills me with perplexity and I still can’t understand the insistence of his circle in trying to make everyone believe that Mario was unhappy by my side», says Isabel Preysler, who shares with her readers four letters dating from the early part of their love story and four more toward its end. The ninth is in his own handwriting to end their romantic relationship. All of them are part of a chapter titled most aptly, Refutations and love letters.
The first missive is dated March 21, 2015, shortly after their relationship became public, and in it the writer expresses how much he misses her. «I think about all day the happiness that will be when I see you again. I hope it will be in Miami. I never imagined you would be so missed by me, that in so little time you would have become someone so indispensable and beloved in my life», we read in it.
Isabel Preysler has published the Nobel’s love letters in her memoirs.
In those letters, love phrases are interwoven with much more passionate ones. From a «I love you very much and I send you many kisses and sweet words for those ears that seem like two perfect question marks» we jump without a net to the most erotic accounts. «I was dying to get close to you and kiss your neck and wrap you in my arms. It seems like ages, since the last time I had you naked in my arms, feeling your heart beating […]. Tonight I will meet you and tell you beautiful and sweet things in your ear while I make love to you».
The seventh letter from the writer bears the date February 18, 2021, Isabel Preysler’s birthday. In it the Nobel confesses to his partner that «thanks to you, I have been very happy, perhaps more than in the rest of my life. It has been much easier than I thought to adapt to your home, to your family, and it has been possible thanks to you, to your affection, to your tenderness and to your love» and ends by saying «I love you very much, I will love you always, until the last day. Happy birthday, my love».
The Nobel’s Last Letter
In February 2022, ten months before their separation, the writer wrote his last letter to Isabel Preysler. Or at least the last one she has decided to share. «We are happy to the extent that happiness is possible in this life and I think we will be the years we still have to live», wrote Mario Vargas Llosa, who was already 86 at the time. «The only thing I am clear about for that uncertain future is that I want to spend it with you, by your side, loving you more each day. I feel my strength gradually failing me, but I hope it does not leave completely».
But the truth is that from that moment until Christmas 2022, when their separation became public, their relationship was getting worse, until the Filipino socialite decided to cut it clean. «After a few years in which we have been very happy, the situation between us has deteriorated. We have lost enthusiasm, complicity, joy and communication between us has become more difficult», we read in My True Story.
«And since, fortunately, we are not married because I did not accept your proposals during the time of happiness, nor do we have children or shared interests that would force us to stay together when we are no longer well with each other, the best thing is to end this relationship already so laden with habit and routine», adds Preysler before leaving written some damning words of farewell: «What truly makes living together impossible is bad manners and you are very badly educated. Please, send someone to pick up all your things».
