The Passenger: Mexico

Fully-illustrated, The Passenger collects the best new writing, photography, art and reportage from around the world.

IN THIS VOLUME: Guadalupe Nettel on Mexico City・
Elena Reina on femicide・
Yasnaya Aguilar on indigenous languages and racism・
Valeria Luiselli on Frida Kahlo and "fridolatry"・
Dario Aleman on the Mayan Train project, and much more...

Mexico: once synonymous with escape and freedom, better known nowadays for widespread violence, narcotraffic, and migration. The ocean, the beaches, the ancient ruins, the tequila: under the patina of mass tourism there's a complex, neurotic country trying to carve out a place for itself in the shadow of its hulky neighbor.

In the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world, 89 indigenous languages are also spoken: a contradictory legacy reflected in its politics, society, religion, food, and culture. With a fifth of the population identifying as indigenous, rediscovering and revaluing the country's pre-Columbian roots informs much of public debate. The controversial Mayan train project connecting Mexico's Caribbean resorts with the South's archaeological sites, crossing (and endangering) communities and forests, is a perfect example of the opposition between the two souls of the country.

The attempts to resolve this contradiction, or better still to learn to live with it, will define the Mexico of the future.