Sister Teresa: The Woman Who Became Saint Teresa of Avila is a historical novel by Bárbara Mujica, published in 2007 by Overlook. The novel is narrated by a fictional nun, Angélica del Sagrado Corazón, who recalls the life of her friend, Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada, who was canonized as Saint Teresa of Ávila in 1622.[1][2]
Bárbara Mujica is an Emeritus Professor of Spanish at Georgetown University whose scholarly focus includes Teresa of Ávila and other early modern women.[3] Her nonfiction books include Teresa de Avila, Lettered Woman (2009),[3][4] and Women Religious and Epistolary Exchange in the Carmelite Reform: The Disciples of Teresa de Avila (2020).[5]
In an Early Modern Women journal review of Women Warriors in Early Modern Spain: A Tribute to Bárbara Mujica, an essay collection that honors Mujica for her scholarly work, Elizabeth Franklin Lewis notes her novels and short fiction, stating "most notable in the context of this volume is her novel Sister Teresa (2007)."[3]
Receptionedit
In a review for Booklist, Margaret Flanagan writes, "Teresa's multitextured story unfolds in sumptuous panels, from her pampered girlhood to her interrogation during the height of the Spanish Inquisition" and "Combining elements of fact and fiction, Mujica is able to paint a portrait of Teresa as a full-blooded woman rather than a plaster saint."[6]Publishers Weekly writes that Mujica "presents Teresa as a very human saint-in-the-making: by turns coquettish, self-loathing, desperately ill, politically masterful, blisteringly witty and, above all, God-obsessed."[2]
According to Kirkus Reviews, "because Angélica is writing for posterity—for a future audience that might not know much about convent life or Catholic theology—the reader is treated to Angélica's concise, matter-of-fact lessons on such matters as the reforms of the Council of Trent and the differences between Carmelites and Jesuits, material that a lesser historical novelist might turn into painfully improbable expository dialogue."[1]
In America, Keith J. Egan praises the novel, while also noting Mujica "emphasizes a kind of anti-hagiography, in which she puts Teresa's humanity front and center. Some devotees of Teresa will no doubt find the earthy and sometimes crude language in this novel off-putting."[7]
In a review for Library Journal, Mary Margaret Benson writes that the book "suffers from some serious flaws. The eroticism and lesbianism are laid on rather thickly and the abundance of late 20th-century colloquialisms (e.g., "bullshit," "swishy," "stickler for detail") are distracting; nor is Teresa's feminism believable."[8] In a review for the Washingtonian, Emily Bratcher writes, "Angelica's comfortable, honest voice makes it easy to relate to this intimate novel's central themes: a siblinglike love-hate relationship, forbidden sexual attraction, the struggle to find and keep faith, and the miracle of salvation."[9]
Adaptationedit
The novel was adapted into the play God's Gypsy by playwright Coco Blignaut at The Actors Studio in collaboration with Mujica.[10] A review by Shari Barett for Broadway World describes the play as "a bold, sexy and humanizing portrait of the 16th century mystic who became one of the most controversial reformers of the Catholic Church."[10] For The Los Angeles Times, Margaret Gray writes that the script "tries to cover too much material."[11]
Referencesedit
^ ab"Sister Teresa". Kirkus Reviews. December 1, 2006. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
^ ab"Sister Teresa". Publishers Weekly. January 8, 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
^ abcLewis, Elizabeth Franklin (Spring 2021). "Women Warriors in Early Modern Spain: A Tribute to Bárbara Mujica. Ed. Susan L. Fischer and Frederick A. De Armas". Early Modern Women. 15 (2): 210–213. doi:10.1353/emw.2021.0014. S2CID 234919730 – via Project MUSE.
^Cunningham, Lawrence S. (September 10, 2010). "Teresa de Ávila". Commonweal. 137 (15) – via MasterFILE Complete.
^Roberts, Laura (2022). "Women Religious and Epistolary Exchange in the Carmelite Reform: The Disciples of Teresa de Ávila". European Review of History: Revue européenne d'histoire. 29 (2): 363–364. doi:10.1080/13507486.2021.1908757. S2CID 236418148. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
^Flanagan, Margaret (January 2007). "Sister Teresa: The Woman Who Became Saint Teresa of Avila". Booklist. 103 (9/10): 56–57 – via MasterFILE Complete.
^Egan, Keith J. (November 17, 2008). "No Plaster Here". America. 199 (16): 26–27. ISSN 0002-7049 – via MasterFILE Complete.
^Benson, Mary Margaret (December 1, 2006). "Sister Teresa: The Woman Who Became Saint Teresa of Avila". Library Journal. 131 (20) – via Business Source Complete.
^ abBarrett, Shari (December 1, 2013). "BWW Reviews: Teresa of Ávila comes to life in GOD'S GYPSY, Coco Blignaut's World Premiere at the Lillian Theater". Broadway World. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
^Gray, Margaret (December 5, 2013). "Review: 'God's Gypsy' at Lillian Theatre provides fleeting rapture". The Los Angeles Times. The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
November 14, 2023
sister, teresa, novel, sister, teresa, woman, became, saint, teresa, avila, historical, novel, bárbara, mujica, published, 2007, overlook, novel, narrated, fictional, angélica, sagrado, corazón, recalls, life, friend, teresa, cepeda, ahumada, canonized, saint,. Sister Teresa The Woman Who Became Saint Teresa of Avila is a historical novel by Barbara Mujica published in 2007 by Overlook The novel is narrated by a fictional nun Angelica del Sagrado Corazon who recalls the life of her friend Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada who was canonized as Saint Teresa of Avila in 1622 1 2 Sister TeresaAuthorBarbara MujicaCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenreHistorical fictionPublished2007Media typePrintPages384ISBN978 1 58567 834 1 Contents 1 Background 2 Reception 3 Adaptation 4 ReferencesBackground editBarbara Mujica is an Emeritus Professor of Spanish at Georgetown University whose scholarly focus includes Teresa of Avila and other early modern women 3 Her nonfiction books include Teresa de Avila Lettered Woman 2009 3 4 and Women Religious and Epistolary Exchange in the Carmelite Reform The Disciples of Teresa de Avila 2020 5 In an Early Modern Women journal review of Women Warriors in Early Modern Spain A Tribute to Barbara Mujica an essay collection that honors Mujica for her scholarly work Elizabeth Franklin Lewis notes her novels and short fiction stating most notable in the context of this volume is her novel Sister Teresa 2007 3 Reception editIn a review for Booklist Margaret Flanagan writes Teresa s multitextured story unfolds in sumptuous panels from her pampered girlhood to her interrogation during the height of the Spanish Inquisition and Combining elements of fact and fiction Mujica is able to paint a portrait of Teresa as a full blooded woman rather than a plaster saint 6 Publishers Weekly writes that Mujica presents Teresa as a very human saint in the making by turns coquettish self loathing desperately ill politically masterful blisteringly witty and above all God obsessed 2 According to Kirkus Reviews because Angelica is writing for posterity for a future audience that might not know much about convent life or Catholic theology the reader is treated to Angelica s concise matter of fact lessons on such matters as the reforms of the Council of Trent and the differences between Carmelites and Jesuits material that a lesser historical novelist might turn into painfully improbable expository dialogue 1 In America Keith J Egan praises the novel while also noting Mujica emphasizes a kind of anti hagiography in which she puts Teresa s humanity front and center Some devotees of Teresa will no doubt find the earthy and sometimes crude language in this novel off putting 7 In a review for Library Journal Mary Margaret Benson writes that the book suffers from some serious flaws The eroticism and lesbianism are laid on rather thickly and the abundance of late 20th century colloquialisms e g bullshit swishy stickler for detail are distracting nor is Teresa s feminism believable 8 In a review for the Washingtonian Emily Bratcher writes Angelica s comfortable honest voice makes it easy to relate to this intimate novel s central themes a siblinglike love hate relationship forbidden sexual attraction the struggle to find and keep faith and the miracle of salvation 9 Adaptation editThe novel was adapted into the play God s Gypsy by playwright Coco Blignaut at The Actors Studio in collaboration with Mujica 10 A review by Shari Barett for Broadway World describes the play as a bold sexy and humanizing portrait of the 16th century mystic who became one of the most controversial reformers of the Catholic Church 10 For The Los Angeles Times Margaret Gray writes that the script tries to cover too much material 11 References edit a b Sister Teresa Kirkus Reviews December 1 2006 Retrieved 31 January 2023 a b Sister Teresa Publishers Weekly January 8 2007 Retrieved 31 January 2023 a b c Lewis Elizabeth Franklin Spring 2021 Women Warriors in Early Modern Spain A Tribute to Barbara Mujica Ed Susan L Fischer and Frederick A De Armas Early Modern Women 15 2 210 213 doi 10 1353 emw 2021 0014 S2CID 234919730 via Project MUSE Cunningham Lawrence S September 10 2010 Teresa de Avila Commonweal 137 15 via MasterFILE Complete Roberts Laura 2022 Women Religious and Epistolary Exchange in the Carmelite Reform The Disciples of Teresa de Avila European Review of History Revue europeenne d histoire 29 2 363 364 doi 10 1080 13507486 2021 1908757 S2CID 236418148 Retrieved 31 January 2023 Flanagan Margaret January 2007 Sister Teresa The Woman Who Became Saint Teresa of Avila Booklist 103 9 10 56 57 via MasterFILE Complete Egan Keith J November 17 2008 No Plaster Here America 199 16 26 27 ISSN 0002 7049 via MasterFILE Complete Benson Mary Margaret December 1 2006 Sister Teresa The Woman Who Became Saint Teresa of Avila Library Journal 131 20 via Business Source Complete Bratcher Emily January 17 2008 Sister Teresa Washingtonian Retrieved 31 January 2023 a b Barrett Shari December 1 2013 BWW Reviews Teresa of Avila comes to life in GOD S GYPSY Coco Blignaut s World Premiere at the Lillian Theater Broadway World Retrieved 31 January 2023 Gray Margaret December 5 2013 Review God s Gypsy at Lillian Theatre provides fleeting rapture The Los Angeles Times The Chicago Tribune Retrieved 31 January 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sister Teresa novel amp oldid 1163002345, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
