The Story Behind 'Elvira Virginia'

 

Elvira Virgínia is the name of my maternal grandmother. Born in 1916, she lived 103 years. Elvira Virgínia – the book – brings several ‘poetic personas’, which give voice to countless women from different eras, personalities, desires and styles. Elvira Virgínia – my grandmother – was also many women in one. Born in the early twentieth century, she saw women being raised to be wives and mothers, saw women stop wanting to be just wives and mothers; she saw women being able to vote, get divorced, saw women burn their bras and take birth control pills, attend universities and enter the workforce. She saw women break free from behavior patterns and go in search of their dreams. Hence, I chose the name of my grandmother, who was a witness to the transformations of women over time, for my first printed book. It represents the plurality and unity of the feminine and marks the sacredness of my ancestry.