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Reviewed by Ibrahim Aslan for Readers' Favorite
MaryAnn Shank’s Sor Juana, My Beloved: The Poetry, The Passion of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz presents a tapestry of the life of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, one of Latin America’s most illustrious figures. The novel weaves biographical fiction by portraying the passion and poetry of Sor Juana’s existence within the cultural and historical context of 17th-century Mexico. The narrative follows Juana from her youth, depicting her precociousness and voracious appetite for knowledge, which sets her apart in a male-dominated society. Her journey is a quest for personal freedom, intellectual fulfillment, and a critical commentary on the gender and social hierarchies of her era. Sor Juana’s intellectual and emotional aspects are explored through evocative scenes that range from her clandestine studies of forbidden texts to her profound reflections on theology and philosophy.
Sor Juana, My Beloved explores themes of gender, power, religious influence, colonialism, cultural identity, class, intellectual freedom, and sexuality—all integral aspects of the social fabric of 17th-century Mexico—using Sor Juana’s life as a lens to examine broader societal issues. The text examines Sor Juana’s connections with other women and her nonconformity to traditional gender roles. The setting in New Spain (colonial Mexico) allows the novel to explore the impacts of Spanish colonialism on the indigenous cultures and peoples and the criollos (people of Spanish descent born in the colonies). The narrative examines the blending and clashing of these cultures and identities. Shank offers a lot for readers to ponder, and the story will appeal to feminists and those interested in the life of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.
