Pablo Neruda

Pablo Neruda Ricardo Reyes

Graf van Malva Marina Reyes, Oude Begraafplaats, Gouda

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-10640-0020, Berlin, III. Weltfestspiele, Vorbereitung

Pablo Neruda (1966)

La Sebastiana Neruda 1

La Chascona Santiago de Chile

Pablo Neruda (July 12, 1904 – September 23, 1973) was a Chilean poet-diplomat and politician. Born Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto in the town of Parral in Chile, he adopted his pen name in honor of the Czech poet Jan Neruda. Pablo Neruda became known as one of the most influential poets of the 20th century, writing in a variety of styles including surrealist poems, historical epics, overtly political manifestos, a prose autobiography, and passionate love poems such as those in his collection Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair (1924).

Biography

Neruda's early poetry was influenced by modernism but also reflected a deep personal introspection. His experiences as a consul in various countries—Burma, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Java, Singapore, Buenos Aires, Barcelona, and Madrid—broadened his worldview and influenced his work, leading to a more diverse and rich poetic output. During the Spanish Civil War, Neruda's political activism emerged, and he became an ardent Communist, which shaped much of his later work and public life.

In 1945, Neruda was elected a Chilean senator for the Communist Party, but after a crackdown on communism in Chile, he went into hiding and eventually fled to Mexico. Throughout his life, Neruda occupied many diplomatic positions and was a close advisor to Chile's socialist President Salvador Allende.

Neruda was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1971 "for a poetry that with the action of an elemental force brings alive a continent's destiny and dreams". His death in 1973 was controversial; although it was officially attributed to prostate cancer, allegations have been made that he was poisoned, with investigations ongoing.

Literary Work

Neruda's literary career is marked by his versatility and innovation. His work is divided into various periods, each reflecting different personal and political concerns. The most notable of these include his early love poems, his surrealist phase in the 1930s, his engagement with political issues in the 1940s and 1950s, and his reflective work in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Major Works

• Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair (1924)
• Canto General (1950)
• Odes to Common Things (1954)
• Elemental Odes (1954)
• The Captain's Verses (1952)

Legacy

Neruda's influence extends beyond literature; he is seen as a cultural icon who brought Latin American literature to the forefront of the global stage. His homes in Chile have been turned into museums, and his life and works continue to inspire artists and writers around the world. The controversy surrounding his death has also kept his name in the public eye, prompting further investigation into the circumstances of his passing.