...she says that 'considering the total antipathy I had toward matrimony,' the convent was the most honorable decision she could make. She took the veil at age nineteen, despite her fear of routines that 'would limit the freedom of my studies, or the noise of a community that would interfere with the tranquil silence of my books' (97). She did at least get a cell of her own, and she amassed a library of several thousand volumes...
AlaMich Sor Juana is such a fascinating historical figure. 3mo
charl08 @AlaMich I'd never heard of her before - any bios you'd recommend? 3mo
AlaMich @charl08 I haven‘t read biographies of her per se,but I learned about her over the course of years of studying Spanish. I do have a volume of her poetry, with the original Spanish and the English translation side by side. I would recommend that, if you enjoy poetry. (Edited to add that I just realized that the pictured book is her work.) (edited) 3mo
charl08 @AlaMich ah, thank you! I wasn't sure how well known she was. Amazing the stuff you miss being (largely) a monoglot. 3mo
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