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Book by Neruda, Pablo, Frasconi, Antonio
- GenresPoetry
80 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1974
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211 people want to read
About the author
Pablo Neruda
1,093 books9,685 followersPablo Neruda, born Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto in 1904 in Parral, Chile, was a poet, diplomat, and politician, widely considered one of the most influential literary figures of the 20th century. From an early age, he showed a deep passion for poetry, publishing his first works as a teenager. He adopted the pen name Pablo Neruda to avoid disapproval from his father, who discouraged his literary ambitions. His breakthrough came with Veinte poemas de amor y una canción desesperada (Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair, 1924), a collection of deeply emotional and sensual poetry that gained international recognition and remains one of his most celebrated works.
Neruda’s career took him beyond literature into diplomacy, a path that allowed him to travel extensively and engage with political movements around the world. Beginning in 1927, he served in various consular posts in Asia and later in Spain, where he witnessed the Spanish Civil War and became an outspoken advocate for the Republican cause. His experiences led him to embrace communism, a commitment that would shape much of his later poetry and political activism. His collection España en el corazón (Spain in Our Hearts, 1937) reflected his deep sorrow over the war and marked a shift toward politically engaged writing.
Returning to Chile, he was elected to the Senate in 1945 as a member of the Communist Party. However, his vocal opposition to the repressive policies of President Gabriel Gonzalez Videla led to his exile. During this period, he traveled through various countries, including Argentina, Mexico, and the Soviet Union, further cementing his status as a global literary and political figure. It was during these years that he wrote Canto General (1950), an epic work chronicling Latin American history and the struggles of its people.
Neruda’s return to Chile in 1952 marked a new phase in his life, balancing political activity with a prolific literary output. He remained a staunch supporter of socialist ideals and later developed a close relationship with Salvador Allende, who appointed him as Chile’s ambassador to France in 1970. The following year, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, recognized for the scope and impact of his poetry. His later years were marked by illness, and he died in 1973, just days after the military coup that overthrew Allende. His legacy endures, not only in his vast body of work but also in his influence on literature, political thought, and the cultural identity of Latin America.
Neruda’s career took him beyond literature into diplomacy, a path that allowed him to travel extensively and engage with political movements around the world. Beginning in 1927, he served in various consular posts in Asia and later in Spain, where he witnessed the Spanish Civil War and became an outspoken advocate for the Republican cause. His experiences led him to embrace communism, a commitment that would shape much of his later poetry and political activism. His collection España en el corazón (Spain in Our Hearts, 1937) reflected his deep sorrow over the war and marked a shift toward politically engaged writing.
Returning to Chile, he was elected to the Senate in 1945 as a member of the Communist Party. However, his vocal opposition to the repressive policies of President Gabriel Gonzalez Videla led to his exile. During this period, he traveled through various countries, including Argentina, Mexico, and the Soviet Union, further cementing his status as a global literary and political figure. It was during these years that he wrote Canto General (1950), an epic work chronicling Latin American history and the struggles of its people.
Neruda’s return to Chile in 1952 marked a new phase in his life, balancing political activity with a prolific literary output. He remained a staunch supporter of socialist ideals and later developed a close relationship with Salvador Allende, who appointed him as Chile’s ambassador to France in 1970. The following year, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, recognized for the scope and impact of his poetry. His later years were marked by illness, and he died in 1973, just days after the military coup that overthrew Allende. His legacy endures, not only in his vast body of work but also in his influence on literature, political thought, and the cultural identity of Latin America.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 16, 2024
Le poesie dedicate dal poeta cileno al mondo animale, colme di grazia, ferocia, sconfinata ammirazione, arricchite dalle stupende, oscure illustrazioni di Luis Scafati. Edizione di pregio targata Guanda.
L’ Ode al gatto la mia prediletta.
L’ Ode al gatto la mia prediletta.
January 13, 2020
Her minik şiir bir sayfaya yazıldığı için 23 sayfa, toplasan 3 sayfa falan kitap. Neruda hayvanlarla iletişim kurma isteğiyle yanıp tutuşurken yazmış sanırım bu şiirleri, pek anlayamadım.
December 5, 2019
Una edición muy cuidada y unas ilustraciones preciosas. No se me ocurre mejor manera de conocer esta parte de la obra de Pablo Neruda.
October 4, 2020
Me contaban más las ilustraciones que los propios poemas.
May 19, 2025
Estoy empezando a leer en poesía y este es uno de los primeros libros que leo de este género.
La verdad considero que no es un libro para introducirte a la poesía, ya que considero que puede llegar a ser muy complejo o sin la estructura de una idea "lineal", que puede llegar a confundir al lector. Sin embargo, hubo algunos que me parecieron interesantes. El autor tiene una gran habilidad de describir- en este caso, las "descripciones físicas" de los animales- que hace que te adentres al poema.
A pesar de que hubo algunos aspectos que me agradaron-entre ellos, las ilustraciones- la mayoría del libro no fue de mi agrado.
La verdad considero que no es un libro para introducirte a la poesía, ya que considero que puede llegar a ser muy complejo o sin la estructura de una idea "lineal", que puede llegar a confundir al lector. Sin embargo, hubo algunos que me parecieron interesantes. El autor tiene una gran habilidad de describir- en este caso, las "descripciones físicas" de los animales- que hace que te adentres al poema.
A pesar de que hubo algunos aspectos que me agradaron-entre ellos, las ilustraciones- la mayoría del libro no fue de mi agrado.
January 14, 2018
A lovely bi-lingual version of this fine Neruda poem with beautiful wodcuts. It would make a great kids book, but as a poet and a lover of art, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
December 12, 2021
O kedinin adı neydi? - 💯
March 28, 2022
No me van mucho las vanguardias, pero los temas eran muy bonitos.
December 12, 2023
el humanismo que le da neruda a su bestiario, el proponer una visión no antropocentrista que resalta que la dignidad no es algo exclusivamente humano, simplemente magia
May 19, 2025
reler e reler o do cachorro e o do gato. mil estrelas para esses.
January 20, 2026
uma edição tão bonita e nem pra ter capa aqui no goodreads
November 24, 2024
rilettura. confermo tre stelle perchè in pratica la conservo solo per una poesia che non ho altrove.
rilettura (da 3 a 4 stelle): son solo due le liriche che rileggo, ma fenomenali.
rilettura. 3 stelle perchè restano da leggere solo le due liriche sul gatto, ma comunque intense e profondissime.
rilettura (confermo 3 stelle). una lirica soltanto, ma preziosa.
all'ennesima rilettura confermo il mio giudizio di 3 stelle, ma lo libero per incantare nuovi lettori.
rilettura (da 3 a 4 stelle): son solo due le liriche che rileggo, ma fenomenali.
rilettura. 3 stelle perchè restano da leggere solo le due liriche sul gatto, ma comunque intense e profondissime.
rilettura (confermo 3 stelle). una lirica soltanto, ma preziosa.
all'ennesima rilettura confermo il mio giudizio di 3 stelle, ma lo libero per incantare nuovi lettori.
September 13, 2024
Fuera de serie! Un libro que se convirtió en uno de mis favoritos de poesía. Bellísima obra. Odas geniales de animales “comunes”. Es fantástico. Por algo es Neruda su autor. Además, las ilustraciones son extraordinarias y le dan un toque maravilloso. Arte puro.
May 18, 2009
Gorgeous book!
May 21, 2013
The version with woodcuts by Antonio Frasconi
December 22, 2015
My Actual Rating: 3.5
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews