The Book of Questions by Pablo Neruda

The Book of Questions by Pablo Neruda

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The Book of Questions by Pablo Neruda

A best-selling volume of Pablo Neruda's poetry in an English-Spanish edition.

Pablo Neruda is one of the world's most popular poets, and in The Book of Questions, Neruda refuses to be corralled by the rational mind. Composed of 316 unanswerable questions, these poems integrate the wonder of a child with the experiences of an adult. By turns Orphic, comic, surreal, and poignant, Neruda's questions lead the reader beyond reason into realms of intuition and pure imagination.

This complete translation of Pablo Neruda's El libro de las preguntas (The Book of Questions) features Neruda's original Spanish-language poems alongside William O'Daly's English translations. In his introduction O'Daly, who has translated eight volumes of Pablo Neruda's poetry, writes, These poems, more so than any of Neruda's other work, remind us that living in a state of visionary surrender to the elemental questions, free of the quiet desperation of clinging too tightly to answers, may be our greatest act of faith.

When Neruda died in 1973, The Book of Questions was one of eight unpublished poetry manuscripts that lay on his desk. In it, Neruda achieves a deeper vulnerability and vision than in his earlier work-and this unique book is a testament to everything that made Neruda an artist.

Neruda's questions evoke pictures that make sense on a visual level before the reader can grasp them on a literal one. The effect is mildly dazzling and] O'Daly's translations achieve a tone that is both meditative and spontaneous. --Publishers Weekly

Pablo Neruda, born in southern Chile, led a life charged with poetic and political activity. He was the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature, the International Peace Prize, and served as Chile's ambassador to several countries, including Burma, France, and Argentina. He died in 1973.

I.

Tell me, is the rose naked
or is that her only dress?

Why do trees conceal
the splendor of their roots?

Who hears the regrets
of the thieving automobile?

Is there anything in the world sadder
than a train standing in the rain?

XIV.

And what did the rubies say
standing before the juice of pomegranates?

Why doesn't Thursday talk itself
into coming after Friday?

Who shouted with glee
when the color blue was born?

Why does the earth grieve
when the violets appear?


Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) is regarded by many as one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. Born in rural Chile he moved to the capital, Santiago, and published his first book in 1923. During the 20s and 30s he served as a diplomat and was ambassador to Spain at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. This event profoundly changed his writing style to one of addressing social and political concerns. He returned to Chile in 1938 but spent many years in exile due to political conditions. Neruda won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1971. Dennis Maloney is a poet, translator, and landscape architect. His books of translation include The House In the Sand and Isla Negra by pablo Neruda, The Naked Women by Juan Ramon Jimenez, and There is No Road: Proverbs of Antonio Machado.
SKU Nicht verfügbar
ISBN 13 9781556590412
ISBN 10 1556590415
Titel The Book of Questions
Autor Pablo Neruda
Buchzustand Nicht verfügbar
Bindungsart Paperback
Verlag Copper Canyon Press,U.S.
Erscheinungsjahr 1991-09-01
Seitenanzahl 96
Hinweis auf dem Einband Die Abbildung des Buches dient nur Illustrationszwecken, die tatsächliche Bindung, das Cover und die Auflage können sich davon unterscheiden.
Hinweis Nicht verfügbar