The Miracle Worker
1997 Nominated

The Miracle Worker

artwork-image

ABOUT
THE BOOK

A murder mystery set in Mexico city, in which the Miracle Worker of the title becomes embroiled in the machinations of a ruthless and ambitious man. Magic, spirituality and the human need for love are all explored in this intensely gripping novel, which tells the stories of those who go to the miracle worker as a last resort as well as that of the woman herself.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Carmen
Boullosa

Carmen Boullosa is one of Mexico’s leading writers. The author of over a dozen novels that have received numerous prizes and honors, Boullosa has been a Guggenheim Fellow and a Cullman Center Fellow at the New York Public Library. Also a poet and playwright, she has taught at New York University, Columbia University, CUNY, and Georgetown, among other universities, and she hosts a television show, Nueva York, on CUNY-TV, which has received five New York Emmys. Her work has been translated into several languages, and she is currently a FONCA fellow in Mexico. She lives in Brooklyn and Mexico City.

Carmen Boullosa is one of Mexico’s leading writers. The author of over a dozen novels that have received numerous prizes and honors, Boullosa has been a Guggenheim Fellow and a Cullman Center Fellow at the New York Public Library. Also a poet and playwright, she has taught at New York University, Columbia University, CUNY, and Georgetown, among other universities, and she hosts a television show, Nueva York, on CUNY-TV, which has received five New York Emmys. Her work has been translated into several languages, and she is currently a FONCA fellow in Mexico. She lives in Brooklyn and Mexico City.

ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR Amanda
Hopkinson

Amanda Hopkinson is an academic, writer and literary translator. Her first biography was of the Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron (Virago 1988). Since then she has published monographs of the Latin American photographers Martin Chambi (Phaidon 2000) and Manuel Álvarez Bravo (Phaidon 2002) and written a history of Latin American photography (Reaktion forthcoming). She has edited and contributed to histories and encyclopaedias of photography [Gale Research] and of Latin American culture (Routledge 2000; 2019 & 2020). She has curated exhibitions and written/edited catalogues for The Photographers’ Gallery (work by Latin American women photographers) and the Barbican (work by Brazilian baiano photographers) among other galleries. She reviews photographic books exhibitions and contributes photographers’ obituaries to The Guardian and The Times newspapers and to BBC Radio.

In addition, the fascination with Latin American/Iberian culture has resulted in over 50 translations of authors including Isabel Allende; Elena Poniatowska; José Saramago and anthologies of both poetry [the first, Lovers and Comrades by Central American poet/activists, Women’s Press, 1989] and prose (most recently Lisbon Tales (OUP 2020)).

Amanda Hopkinson is an academic, writer and literary translator. Her first biography was of the Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron (Virago 1988). Since then she has published monographs of the Latin American photographers Martin Chambi (Phaidon 2000) and Manuel Álvarez Bravo (Phaidon 2002) and written a history of Latin American photography (Reaktion forthcoming). She has edited and contributed to histories and encyclopaedias of photography [Gale Research] and of Latin American culture (Routledge 2000; 2019 & 2020). She has curated exhibitions and written/edited catalogues for The Photographers’ Gallery (work by Latin American women photographers) and the Barbican (work by Brazilian baiano photographers) among other galleries. She reviews photographic books exhibitions and contributes photographers’ obituaries to The Guardian and The Times newspapers and to BBC Radio.

In addition, the fascination with Latin American/Iberian culture has resulted in over 50 translations of authors including Isabel Allende; Elena Poniatowska; José Saramago and anthologies of both poetry [the first, Lovers and Comrades by Central American poet/activists, Women’s Press, 1989] and prose (most recently Lisbon Tales (OUP 2020)).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Country
United Kingdom
Original Language
Spanish
Publisher
Jonathan Cape
Translator
Amanda Hopkinson

RELATED FEATURES

News February 17 2026

2026 Dublin Literary Award Longlist is Revealed

Delve into the 20 novels longlisted this year.
Video December 31 2025

Bidding farewell on our 30 Years Anniversary Year

Let's take a look back at some highlights from past years.
News November 19 2025

2026 Nominations Revealed

69 titles have been nominated by 80 libraries from 36 countries for the 2026 Award
News November 19 2025

2026 Dublin Literary Award Judges Announced

Meet our judging panel for 2026 Dublin Literary Award

STAY CONNECTED

Stay in touch and sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates on the Dublin Literary Award.