The subject of my book is a Portuguese Cistercian nun, Joana de Jesus (1617–1681),whowroteanautobiographicalmysticaltext.However,themostfamousPortuguesenun is still Mariana Alcoforado (1640–1723),probably the fictional author of theLet-tresPortugaises.1Thisbook–anardentcorrespondencebetweenacloisterednunanda French aristocrat – had wide appeal in the European literary scene of its time.…