Untold sisters : Hispanic nuns in their own works /

In 1989, editors Arenal and Schlau first presented this valuable collection of the writings and literature of 13 Catholic nuns who lived in Spain and Latin America between the late 16th and 18th centuries. The first edition was important because it focused attention on several Hispanic female writers much less recognized than the well-known Saint Teresa and Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz. Each chapter concentrated on a single individual or small group and included a historical and thematic introduction to the author. Substantial excerpts from the poetry, theater, and diaries of each writer were included, and each excerpt was printed in Spanish with an English translation. The collection provided a look into the psychology, history, and literary activities of convents, along with interesting glimpses into the daily lives of women who dedicated themselves to the Church. This revised edition includes most of the same essays and texts, though different excerpts are used for a couple of the writers. The extensive updated bibliography is a visual indicator of the increased interest in this field since the earlier edition appeared. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty. M. L. Grover Brigham Young University

This book makes available--in some cases for the first time--a wealth of previously ``hidden'' literature written by Hispanic nuns of the 16th through 18th centuries. By permitting the bilingual texts to speak for themselves, the editors let us glimpse the women who lived as families in the convents. The book offers a variety of forms and themes, allowing individual voices to emerge: a poet praises her Carmelite sandals while another writes, ``Many complain that Death comes in swift ways, but for this poor old woman it comes in a wagon drawn by lumbering oxen.'' The editors provide valuable background, extensive notes, and bibliography and have included work by nuns from Spanish America. All these nuns wrote despite male suspicion and official censorship; their lives testify to ``the unending human capacity for survival and creativity.''-- Kathleen Norris, Lemmon P.L., N.D . (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.