Spain’s New World colonies might be the last place that you’d expect to find a cross-dressing nun. However, a famous memoir from the 17th century, chronicling the life and surprising career of Catalina de Erauso, became wildly popular for its account of her military exploits in what’s now South America. The memoir was adapted into a play, La monja alfèrez, or The Lieutenant Nun, and it became a hit on the stage back in Spain. The play’s never been translated into English before, but now Mac Test of Boise State University is working on one. Join us as Mac shares the surprising story behind this unique play.

Links:

• Learn more about Catalina de Erauso, the real-life inspiration for La monja alfèrez.
• Watch a 1944 Mexican film adaptation of La monja alfèrez.
• Read the Spanish version of the play in this recent edition. 

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