The Hummingbird's Daughter: A Novel Cover
Podcast Mentions

The Hummingbird's Daughter A Novel

Luis Alberto Urrea

This historical novel is based on Urrea's real great-aunt Teresita, who had healing powers and was acclaimed as a saint. Urrea has researched historical accounts and family records for years to get an accurate story.

Podcasts 1
Quotes 10
On Being with Krista Tippett

This historical novel was based on the author's father's Aunt Teresa, a Mexican mystic folk healer and revolutionary insurgent. The author described the process of writing it as a 20-year study with shamans and medicine people, and said that the book explores the soul's journey. It was mentioned as one of the author's books that explores the complicated nature of human identity and borders.

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His books include Into the Beautiful North, The Devil's Highway, The Hummingbird's Daughter, and a 2023 novel, Goodnight Irene, inspired by his mother's service in the Red Cross.

— Episode: Luis Alberto Urrea — On Our Belonging to...

Episode: Luis Alberto Urrea — On Our Belonging to Each Othe...

This historical novel was based on the author's father's Aunt Teresa, a Mexican mystic folk healer and revolutionary insurgent. The author described the process of writing it as a 20-year study with shamans and medicine people, and said that the book explores the soul's journey. It was mentioned as one of the author's books that explores the complicated nature of human identity and borders.

"

His books include Into the Beautiful North, The Devil's Highway, The Hummingbird's Daughter, and a 2023 novel, Goodnight Irene, inspired by his mother's service in the Red Cross.

His historical novel, The Hummingbird's Daughter, is based on the story of his father's Aunt Teresa.

My great-grandmother. Known as the Mexican Joan of Arc, a Mexican mystic folk healer and revolutionary insurgent.

You brought up Hummingbird's Daughter. Just imagine 20 years studying with shamans and medicine people to write that book. So I've become, you know, I used to work with Baptist missionaries. They're not sure what kind of beast I am now.

His many books include Into the Beautiful North, The Devil's Highway, The Hummingbird's Daughter, and Goodnight Irene.

Episode: [Unedited] Luis Alberto Urrea with Krista Tippett

The book is a historical novel based on the life of the author's great-aunt, Teresa, described as a Mexican mystic, folk healer, and revolutionary insurgent. The writing process involved extensive research with shamans and medicine people.

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His historical novel, The Hummingbird's Daughter, is based on the story of his father's Aunt Teresa. Is that correct? That's the book?

Just imagine 20 years studying with shamans and medicine people to write that book.

But I find the sacred in almost everything.

So when I started researching the region my family's from, originally it's a village named Urea.

And when the immigration issue caught up with me after a couple of books and I was talking about it, you know, and people would be really offended and upset with me.

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