The Book of Emma Reyes was brought to the attention of Daniel Alarcón by a persistent stranger who insisted he read it at the Bogotá Book Fair in 2014. Alarcón, known for uncovering and sharing captivating stories from Latin America through the Radio Ambulante podcast, found a gem in Emma Reyes’s memoir, originally published in 2012 by the Colombian press Laguna Libros.
Reyes, a well-regarded painter and acquaintance of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, reveals the first nineteen years of her life in this memoir, chronicling her challenging upbringing from poverty to life in a strict convent after being abandoned by her mother.
The memoir itself is a series of twenty-three letters to writer Germán Arciniegas penned over several decades. Inspired by Arciniegas to document her life story, Reyes found solace in writing to him, though their correspondence faced a setback when some letters were shared without her consent to Gabriel García Márquez, causing a long interruption in communication.
Reyes’s writing style, described as simple yet poignant by Alarcón, captivates with its vivid descriptions and profound truths. Her recollection of childhood injustices and moments of tenderness within the convent showcase her ability to convey complex emotions with clarity and sincerity.
Despite the challenges and hardships she faced, Reyes’s memoir exudes a sense of resilience and determination, beautifully captured through her candid storytelling and vivid imagery. The memoir leaves readers with a lingering curiosity about the path that led Reyes from that convent doorstep to her later life in France, painting, and her relationships with prominent artists and writers.
As the memoir closes with Reyes standing on the cusp of her unknown future, her request to remember her resonates, leaving a lasting impression of a remarkable life yet to unfold.
