At this point in her life, nine- teen-year-old Juana turned away from royal life, devoted herself to the Catholic church, and became a nun in a cloister, a church in which a group of nuns lives. In this new life, Juana knew she could do more of what she loved to do for the rest of her days: read, write, and learn. As a nun, Juana transformed her new room into a library, filling it with works of art, scientific instruments, and thou- sands of books from around the world — some say it may have been the most extensive pri- vate library in all of Mexico. She deliberated with scholars of all sorts. She learned how to speak and read Portuguese and Italian. She wrote songs that were sung all across Mexico and plays that were performed in Spain. She exchanged letters with friends in America and Europe. With her imagination (#24) , she wrote exceptional poems that are analyzed to this day for their beauty and meaning.
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