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The Essential Neruda  By  cover art

The Essential Neruda

By: Pablo Neruda,Mark Eisner - editor and translator
Narrated by: C. S. Verdád
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Publisher's summary

More than 100 years after his birth, Pablo Neruda's poetry is as vital and beloved as ever.

This collection presents 50 of the most essential poems by one of history's greatest poets in dynamic new translations, the result of an unprecedented collaboration among a team of poets, translators, and the world's leading Neruda scholars.

A definitive selection that draws from the entire breadth of Neruda's various styles, themes, and periods, The Essential Neruda breathes new life and understanding into the world of one of Latin America's - and the world's - treasures.

The complete list of translators for this edition includes: Stephen Mitchell, Mark Eisner, Forrest Gander, Robert Haas, John Felstiner, Jack Hirschman, Stephen Kessler, and Alastair Reid.

©2004 City Lights Books (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Featured Article: 10 of the Best Hispanic Authors to Listen to Right Now


This list is in no way exhaustive, but it is a great place to discover—or rediscover—exceptional Hispanic writers, many with extensive back catalogs. It’s gratifying to hear these works in the language in which they were written, with gorgeous renditions en español. And while you’ll have plenty of their work to listen to, we also suggest you learn about the lives of each author. Their stories include struggles as immigrants, expatriates, and refugees.

What listeners say about The Essential Neruda

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I love Neruda

I absolutely love Pablo Neruda's poems. This narrator does an excellent job. The poem selection and translation is beautiful.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Beautiful Imagery

I was a bit disappointed to find that my favorite poem by him wasn't in this selection but, I mean, it's still a wonderful collection of his work to listen to in bed to relax after a long day.

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5 people found this helpful

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Too fast

Lovely speed reading of Neruda, which is not how I like to read his poetry. I turned the reading speed down to .7 and that seemed a more appropriate speed. Probably could go down to .6 or even .5 (half speed). The narrator had all the emotion of a textbook recitation, which again is not how I like to read Neruda, someone who read more slowly with a bit of sensuality would have been more enjoyable.

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2 people found this helpful

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I love you because....

The rising of a thousand sun's could not capture the intense emotion and depth of my gratitude for the existence of this great man. The power of his poetry has softened the times of sorrows throughout my life and granted me the gift of hope when other avenues of inspiration failed to speak directly to my soul..... Thank you Pablo.....Thank you.

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2 people found this helpful

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Maybe it's better in Spanish. Lackluster reading.

Maybe it's better in Spanish. Lackluster reading. Too little pause between poems. Maybe try another collection.

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  • MM
  • 02-01-22

Did not like

Did not like the translation or recitation much prefer the Il Postino soundtrack created for the movie

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1 person found this helpful

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Lyrical and passionate

Passionate, lyrical, emotive. Hardly restful. Pablo Neruda’s poetry makes you sit down, listen, and ponder. I adore his work and loved the narrator’s reading.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Timeless Beauty even in Translation

He brings together Nature, Verse and the Beauty of Beloved Women with his Words. Wonderful listening experience. Four Stars. ****

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Always good to experience Neruda, but

Translations are mostly ok, but suffer in places. Tittles need to be correct. One nest? Maybe “Oneness”?

I done hearing this man.

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20 love poems is a great opening!

I was super glad to find out that this exists in audio book. The love poems paint a very natural picture, from moss to pubice. Great way to read Neruda.

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