Born in the 16th century, Teresa of Avila was no ordinary nun. Not only did she claim to receive visions directly from God but she also wrote about them in such personal and erotic terms that a fascination for her has lived on ever since. Now a new film about her life has been roundly criticised by Spain’s bishops. Author Elena Carrera and Lecturer in Spanish, Dr Colin Thompson, discuss with Jenni why four centuries on, Teresa of Avila still manages to divide opinion.
Teresa of Avila's Autobiography: Authority, Power and the Self in Mid-sixteenth Century Spain (Legenda) by Elena CarreraÌý ISBN 1900755963
