Alfonso Reyes

Who was this Alfonso Reyes, whose name graces not only streets but a metro station here in Monterrey? Born in this very city in 1889, Alfonso Reyes Ochoa wasn’t just a local boy. He became a giant of Mexican literature, a philosopher, a diplomat, and a nominee for the Nobel Prize in Literature not once, but five times. The Alfonso Reyes metro station, with its symbolic book logo, stands as a testament to his literary legacy. Reyes’s father, General Bernardo Reyes, was a prominent figure, the governor of Nuevo León and a key figure in Porfirio Díaz’s government. His childhood here in Monterrey was followed by studies at prestigious institutions like the National Autonomous University of Mexico, where he earned a law degree in 1913. That same year, tragedy struck. His father died during a coup against President Francisco I. Madero. Reyes then embarked on a diplomatic career that took him to France, Spain, Argentina, and Brazil. Yet, his passion for literature never waned. His time in Spain, from 1914 to 1924, is considered his most prolific period. He published essays, stories, and translations, cementing his place as a master of the Spanish language. One of his most famous works, “Visión de Anáhuac,” captures the spirit of Mexico’s history and landscape. Back in Mexico, he dedicated himself to teaching and establishing El Colegio de México, a prestigious academic institution. Even today, his impact is felt. Jorge Luis Borges, the renowned Argentinian writer, called Reyes “the greatest prose writer in the Spanish language of any age.” So, as you pass through the Alfonso Reyes metro station, remember the boy from Monterrey who became a literary icon, his words echoing through time.