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.
Presenter (Interviewer):
Jorge López has been a member of the Mexican Foreign Service since 2023. He currently serves as Consul of Documentation of Mexico in Seattle, where he provides consular assistance to Mexican nationals residing in the states of Washington and Alaska.
The House bar will be open to serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.Elwin Wirkala
Elwin L. Wirkala grew up in Naselle, Washington, where he developed an early passion for poetry inspired by Henley’s Invictus and his parents’ readings of the Bible. While studying English at the University of Washington, he joined the Peace Corps and spent 21 years in Brazil, becoming fluent in Portuguese and Spanish. During that time, he taught English privately, including to former Brazilian President Juscelino Kubitschek, and started a family. Returning to Seattle, he completed his master’s degree and became a language instructor at the University of Washington. A lifelong writer and translator of poetry, his first book focuses on Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz’s Primero Sueño (First Dream).
