Acclaimed Mexican Author Yuri Herrera Gives Reading at Holy Cross

Spanish department, and the Dean’s Office.

Juan G. Ramos, assistant professor of Spanish who organized the event, introduced Herrera to an audience of students and faculty gathered in Rehm Library. As Ramos noted, Herrera “is one of Mexico’s and Latin America’s most important contemporary writers in part because of the lyricism and economy of his prose, but also because of his direct engagement with pressing issues such as violence and migration.”

Herrera proceeded to read a selection of his work, including an excerpt from his latest novel, "The Transmigration of Bodies." Herrera presented his work in Spanish and Bridget Franco, assistant professor of Spanish, then read the same excerpts in English translation. Following the reading, Rodrigo Fuentes, assistant professor of Spanish, held a conversation with Herrera on the current state of Latin American literature. Herrera ended the program by taking questions from the audience on his work, his creative process, and the act of translation.

Before returning to his teaching position at Tulane University, Herrera visited several Spanish classes to converse with students. Herrera's visit was part of an ongoing effort by the Spanish department to invite guest speakers engaged in the creative arts as well as academia.

Written by Rodrigo Fuentes, assistant professor of Spanish