Sor Juana

Stavans introduces readers to a woman who, in the crucible of Spanish monastic life, forged a poetic idiom for writing verse between the identities of Europe and America.’—Los Angeles Review of Books

‘Sor Juana is a loving, playful exploration of this brilliant, controversial, and unpredictable woman. It uses the multifarious visual and cultural interpretations of the nun in pop culture as a stepping off point from which to illuminate the spirit of this woman, and to explain how she managed to capture the hearts and minds of generations.’—The Literary Review

‘Ilan Stavans’s lively ‘meditation’ on this Mexican nun not only accounts for the colorful persistence of her fame but also guides us through her early tragic journey against the patriarchy.’—Diana de Armas Wilson, author of Cervantes, the Novel, and the New World

‘Who else but Ilan Stavans could truly capture the ever-changing kaleidoscopic spirit and heart of Mexico as seen through the enigmatic personality of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz? Insightful, knowledgeable, and totally engaging—with plenty of chispa and chisme to make you want more, Ilan Stavans delivers a powerful meditation on the greatness of this iconic and elusive woman of letters who captured the world with her brilliance.’—Denise Chávez, author of The King and Queen of Comezón

‘Once again, Stavans bridges divides and distances in time and space. We would lose so much of the hemisphere—of ourselves—without his knowledge and guidance.’—Julia Alvarez, author of In the Time of the Butterflies