Against the backdrop of Isla Negra - the sea and wind, the white sand with its scattering of delicate wild flowers, the hot sun and salty smells of the Pacific - the poet sets the poems in celebration of his love. The subject of that love is Matilde Urrutia de Neruda, the poet's 'beloved wife'.
I do not read Spanish, and so, I cannot tell the quality of Stephen Tapscott's translation. I cannot tell how much was lost from Neruda's original poems in their power. I cannot tell what was lost in their linguistics. I can say that each poem in this collection is absolutely beautiful. I have not been a great poetry reader for very long (I'm eighteen), but in the last year, I have read thousands of poems. Pablo Neruda's poems in translation are absolutely my favorites. These one hundred sonnets rank as highly with the other gorgeous translations that I have read. The poems in this book are all very freely written sonnets. Almost all that survives from the sonnets original form is the number of lines. Each poem is powerful, and Neruda is marvelous at pouring himself and his feelings for his wife into each. My favorite poem is certainly the seventeenth. Fans of Neruda's other poetry should enjoy this edition (as should fans of any great poetry), and I do hope that translations continue to be printed in the hope that Neruda will be done justice. I also hope that I can one day learn Spanish well enough to understand these sonnets in their original language.
I wish everybody could read thsi book.....
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
I think this book is the best poems book that i have read,it express itself all the things you want to read either when you are feeling down or when you are feeling great, it told me a lot of things,it simply makes somebody believe in love,only for the deep meaning of every single word described on each poem....
I wish everybody would read something like this .......
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
I thinl this book is the best poems book that i have read,it express itself all the things you want to read either when you are feeling down or when you are feeling great, it told me a lot of things,it simply makes somebody believe in love,only for the deep meaning of every single word described on each poem....
My review is based upon Sonnet 17.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
Pablo Neruda captured the hearts of many people, especially me. I fell in love with Sonnet 17 in English class my senior year of High School. Then to hear it in one of the best movies, Patch Adams, was so incredible. It says exactly what I want to say to someone I really love but have no words for.
Excellent Collection of Pablo Neruda's best stuff.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
This book gave extra life to the relationship between my girl friend and I. We now recite his Sonnets and Poems to express our feelings towards each other. Recommend this for any relationship or individual looking for some kind of romantic feelings.
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