author
Antonio de Solís
1610–1686
A major voice of Spain’s Baroque age, he moved with ease between the stage and the writing of history. Best known today for his vivid account of the conquest of Mexico, he also enjoyed a successful career as a playwright and court writer.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in Alcalá de Henares in 1610, Antonio de Solís y Ribadeneyra studied law at the University of Salamanca, where he began writing for the theater. He went on to build a literary career that included plays, poetry, and prose, and he became associated with the tradition of Spanish Baroque drama.
His life was closely tied to the royal court. Solís served powerful patrons and later worked for Philip IV, eventually becoming chronicler of the Indies. That role helped shape the work for which many readers remember him most: Historia de la conquista de México, a polished and influential history of Hernán Cortés's campaign.
Although modern readers may approach his history with an awareness of its period perspective, Solís remains an important literary figure for the elegance of his style and the range of his writing. He died in Madrid in 1686, leaving behind a body of work that links Spain’s theatrical brilliance with its imperial historical storytelling.