The Captain's Verses: Love Poems (New Directions Books)

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By: Pablo Neruda
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EDITORIAL REVIEW

The Nobel Prize winner 's classic collection of love poems. Pablo Neruda, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, finished writing The Captain's Verses in 1952 while in exile on the island of Capri—the paradisal setting for the blockbuster film Il Postino (The Postman). Surrounded by sea, sun, and Capri's natural splendors, Neruda addressed these poems to his lover Matilde Urrutia before they were married, but didn't publish them publicly until 1963. This complete, bilingual collection has become a classic for love-struck readers around the world—passionately sensuous, and exploding with all the erotic energy of a new love. .

PRODUCT DETAILS

Publisher: New Directions
Pub. Date: 25th February 2009
Catalog: Book
Media: Paperback
Number Of Pages: 160
Ean: 9780811218214
Isbn: 081121821X

ABOUT THIS BOOK

USER REVIEWS

beautiful love poems
~ Written on May 1, 2009. out of users found this review helpful.

i had no problems with the translations... i don't speak spanish :] they don't sound forced or choppy to me, though. neruda is a wonderful poet. i re-read this all the time.

Sensual masterpieces
~ Written on Jan 9, 2007. 2 out of 2 users found this review helpful.

I bought this book because for the long time I wanted to read something by Neruda, and this bilingual edition offered an opportunity to read the original Spanish alongside with the English translation. Since I know a bit of Spanish, this was an opportunity to practice it and improve it, as well as get exposed to some of the most sensual and inspiring poems in any language. Neruda's idiom is rich with metaphors, and he takes everyday objects and situations and imbues them with poetic and emotional undertones. This fascination with common objects is particularly useful for someone who is learning Spanish - it provides a great and enjoyable vocabulary-building opportunity. However, be warned - some phrases and words are a bit risque, and you shouldn't be too liberal at trying to impress your Spanish speaking friends at parties. It may lead to some interesting situations.

So Beautiful
~ Written on Feb 3, 2005. 2 out of 2 users found this review helpful.

This is quite possibly the most beautiful book of poetry that I have ever read.

An excellent gift to one that you love passionately.

the heart of Neruda
~ Written on Apr 12, 2003. 7 out of 8 users found this review helpful.

This is a fabulous dual-language collection of some of the most sensual, passionate poems written in modern times. Whether he imagines himself as an insect making a journey "from your hips to your feet", traveling to distant places with his beloved by his side, or as a soldier who must leave but whose love will "go on singing until the end of life", Neruda writes with exquisite simplicity, and great beauty.

I find this to be the most accessible of Neruda's books that I have read, perhaps because its subject was a central part of his life. As explained in the introduction of the book, these poems are autobiographical, and written about his wife, Matilde Urrutia. First published anonymously in 1952, they were released in 1963 under his own name, but only after much thought, because of their "intimate birth".
The translations by Donald D. Walsh are superb. He has captured the fluid rhythm, the emotion, and the fire.

He was fortunate to have had this remarkable relationship, as well as the ability to express his feelings with such uncommon depth, but for those men who lack Neruda's poetic genius, and who would like to melt the heart of the woman they love, this might be the perfect gift to go along with that bunch of flowers.

The most beloved book of poetry that I own
~ Written on Dec 31, 2002. 3 out of 3 users found this review helpful.

I had heard about Pablo Neruda a few years before and I wasn't too fond of his poetry. When I opened "The Captain's Verses" in a bookstore a few months ago, I knew that I had to have it. Since then this has become my most treasured book of poetry. I don't even know how to describe Pablo Neruda. When you read his poetry you just become entranced by the way he is so accurately able to convey such passion in his simple words and beautiful imagery. Even now after I have read each poem in this book at least a hundred times I am still amazed by the way he does it. I have not yet found another book of poetry that can evoke such feeling as "The Captain's Verses." I believe that this is essential to any poetry lover's collection of poetry and that those who are not big fans of poetry would enjoy the love poems of Pablo Neruda.

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