Book Presentation: “The Dream of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz” by Elwin L. Wirkala

Elwin L. Wirkala, a poet and translator from the state of Washington, published in 2024 the book “The Dream of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz,” which features an annotated translation of “Primero Sueño,” a poem by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz that stands as one of the masterpieces of Spanish-language poetry and a landmark in Mexican culture.

Through a translation of the poem accompanied by annotations, commentary, and analysis, Wirkala’s book offers both Spanish and English-speaking readers an accessible invitation to the most celebrated work of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, a leading figure of the Spanish Golden Age in the Americas.

The purpose of the book presentation is to promote the work of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz through the perspective of a U.S.-based scholar, thereby fostering cultural ties between Mexico and the United States.