SOR JUANA, MY BELOVED — The Poetry, The Passions of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, by MaryAnn Shank

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MaryAnn Shank, the author

Meet the Author of SOR JUANA, MY BELOVED:

MaryAnn Shank

Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, the brilliant 17th century Mexican nun, had two passions in life: Poetry and the Viceroy’s wife.

Exploring those passions led me on a five-year journey, scouring every book, every mention that I could dig up.

What I discovered was far more than I could have anticipated.

She was a poet — yes. She dreamed in lush poetry that has aged like fine wine.

She was a dramatist — yes. She enchanted the world with her work, and it is still performed today.

She was a nun — yes. Her faith guided her every move.

She also possessed a brilliance that defied definition, and a love so deep that it leapt across oceans.

Cozy up … or fly away! Adventure … Romance … Inspiration … every week, straight to your IN box!

In counterpoint to all of that was an Archbishop who was insanely jealous of her success, one who screamed, “Shut her up!” He wasn’t kidding. He wanted her silenced, by any means.

Finally she stood before the Inquisition. Alone.

Traveling with Sor Juana on this journey has been a true Gift. I invite you to join me.

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Applause! Applause!

Mesmerizing read about an astonishing woman.

Kathryn Henderson, Professor Emirta (Texas A&M University)

Richly layered, elegantly written, and affecting .. In Shank’s lyrical historical tale, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, a brilliant writer and thinker in 17th century Mexico, finds herself caught between her artistic ambitions and the increasingly conservative forces of the church.

The Prairie Book Review

[Sor Juana’s] literary prowess, her search for truth about family and her world, and her uncommon relationships and achievements all come to life in a story that will prove hard to put down. …[A] passionate exploration of Sor Juana’s life.

Diane Donovan, Editor, Donovan’s Literary Services

Talk a Little, Talk a Lot

All great reads, like this one, have themes or ideas, or just hints, for discussion topics in your book club. Here are a few ideas for you:

When Juana was called before the Inquisition, what were her real options? Do you think she chose the right one?
Most biographers claim that Juana’s Abuelo, her father and male church leaders were cruel to her, leading her to hate men and retreat to the convent. Most say that even the Bishop of Puebla betrayed her. What do you think was her relationship with men, both in the religious orders and in the common world?
Many lesbian groups are now leaping to claim Sor Juana as one of their own. Was she a lesbian? (The term itself wasn’t coined for another 200 years.) At what point did she become a lesbian? when she encountered the ladies-in-waiting at the pool? when she had the encounter with Sor Beatrice? when she kissed the Vicerine Leonore? or when she fell in love with Maria Luisa? What makes her a “lesbian” at any given point? Do you know any lesbians? When did they become lesbians?
Sor Juana and Maria Luisa were both very powerful women. What gave each of them their power? How does their power compare to that of the Archbishop, or that of Madre Superiora? What “makes” a person powerful?
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Africa Anthology Art Birds Book Banning Chronic illness Ecology Faraway Places Holocaust Japanese Internment Legends Magic Mexico Native Americans Peace Corps Poetry Siblings Somalia Writers/Poets

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