Pablo Neruda,  (July 12, 1904- September 23, 1973) a Chilean poet and political diplomat, is considered one of the best Spanish-language poets ever. His poetic style spans from erotic, romantic and surrealist to fiercly political. Born July 12, 1904 in the small city of Parral, Chile, to Jose del Carmen Reyes Morales, a railroad worker, and Rosa Neftali Bosoalto Opazo, a school teacher. His mother died of tuberculosis when he was two months old. He was born with the name Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto, but used the pen name Pablo Neruda until 1946, in honor of the Czech writer, Jan Neruda.

Although his interest in writing and literature was condemned by his father, he received encouragement by future Nobel Prize winner, Gabriela Mistral, who headed the local girls' school. At 14, he had his first published work, a poem, in the local newspaper called "Entusiamo y Perseverancia" (Enthusiasm and Perseverance.") In 1921, he moved to
Santiago to study French at the Universidad de Chile, but left to focus on writing poetry. In 1923, his first book of poetry, "Crespulicario" (Book of Twilights) was published, along with "Veinte poemas de amor y una canci�?�³n desesperada" (Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair.) This would become a very controversial work because of its heavy
eroticism, but would also be his best-selling work.

Between 1927 and 1935, Neruda was appointed by the Chilean government as a consul to Burma, then worked as a diplomat in other European and East Asian countries. During this time, he focused on surrealist poetry, including  the collection"Residencia en la tierra."  In 1937, he started writing social and political poetry, as in his collection "Espana en el Corazon." Influenced by the Spanish Civil War, Neruda became a life-long communist and was elected to the Communist party senate in 1945, but was forced into exile for three years when  he published letters attacking the president of Chile. His 1952 stay in a villa on
Capri inspired the 1994 film, "Il Postino." In 1970, he was nominated as a candidate for presidency but eventually dropped out to support Salvador Allende. From 1970 to 1973, he worked as Paris' ambassador for Allende and the Chilean government.

Neruda died of leukemia in Santiago, Chile in 1973.

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Articles About Neruda, Pablo

Pablo Neruda's Isla Negra	February 5, 2007
"A Single Drop Lucid and Heavy." A French admirer of Pablo Neruda visits his Isla Negra in Chile Finally, I made it to Isla Negra.