José Luis Martínez Rodríguez facts for kids
José Luis Martínez Rodríguez (born in 1918 in Atoyac, Jalisco) was a very important Mexican writer, historian, and diplomat. He was also a bibliographer, which means he studied and listed books.
He led a big publishing house called Fondo de Cultura Económica from 1977 to 1982. He also taught literature at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
Contents
His Work and Achievements
Joining Important Academies
In 1960, José Luis Martínez Rodríguez joined the Academia Mexicana de la Lengua, which is like a special group for experts in the Spanish language in Mexico. He later became its director from 1980 to 2002. In 2003, he was made an Honorary Director for life.
He also joined the Academia Mexicana de la Historia in 1993. This group focuses on Mexican history. He was also a member of similar language academies in Peru and the Dominican Republic. From 1965 to 1970, he was the Director General of the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes, which promotes arts in Mexico.
Representing Mexico
Besides his academic roles, he also worked as a diplomat. From 1963 to 1964, he represented Mexico at UNESCO. UNESCO is a part of the United Nations that works to promote education, science, and culture around the world. He was also Mexico's ambassador to Greece from 1971 to 1974. An ambassador is a country's official representative in another country.
Awards and Honors
José Luis Martínez Rodríguez received many awards for his work. These include the National Prize for Arts and Sciences for Literature and Linguistics, and the Alfonso Reyes International Prize. He also received the Menéndez Pelayo International Prize.
He was honored by other countries too. He received the Spanish Civil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise and the French Legion of Honor. In 1967, he became a Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
His Amazing Library
José Luis Martínez Rodríguez had one of the largest personal libraries in Mexico. A bibliophile is someone who loves books and collects them. His huge collection of books has been kept safe in the National Library of Mexico.
Leading the Fondo de Cultura Económica
When José Luis Martínez Rodríguez was the director of the Fondo de Cultura Económica, a major publishing house, many new books were published. Over 700 new titles came out during his time.
He also started a special collection called Revistas Literarias Mexicanas Modernas. This collection reprinted important Mexican literary magazines from the first half of the 20th century. He also worked to update the main catalog of books, reissuing 1084 titles that were still very important for culture.
Books He Wrote
José Luis Martínez Rodríguez wrote many books on different topics, especially about Mexican history and literature. Here are some of his works:
- America Antigua: Nahua, Mayas, Quechuas, Otras Culturas, (1976) ISBN: 968-290-106-5
- El Trato con Escritores y Otros Estudios, (1992) ISBN: 970-620-139-4
- La Expresión Nacional: Letras Mexicanas del Siglo XIX, (1993) ISBN: 968-295-309-X
- La Literatura Mexicana del Siglo XX, (1995) ISBN: 968-296-164-5
- Pasajeros de Indias, Viajes Transatlánticos en el Siglo XVI, (1998) ISBN: 84-206-2355-5
- Bibliofilia. (Autobiográfico), (2000) ISBN: 968-16-7602-5
- Cruzar el Atlántico, (2004) ISBN: 968-16-7361-1
- Nezahualcóyotl: Vida y Obra, (2006) ISBN: 968-16-0509-8
- Hernán Cortés, (2006) ISBN: 968-16-3330-X
