Selected Poems (Bilingual Edition) (English and Spanish Edition)

This would be my first introduction to Pablo Neruda, and I must say I'm a bit disappointed. Not that Neruda isn't a great poet, the Nobel Prize and critical acclaim prove the contrary, but perhaps the translation could use some more work.

I picked this copy up noticing the name of Robert Hass', the translator and author of the Essential Haiku, on which he did a great job. Unfortunately, Eisner is the editor of the majority of the poems. The analogy to Eisner's translation would be like what Zondervan did to the bible in their NIV. It's not a bad translation, but it's moderned up a bit. I would have appreciated a more King James-like translation of Neruda's poems as I could infer a lot of missed nuances that appear to be in the original Spanish on the opposite page. A lot of the translations lack the depth and texture of what a great poet should have, and sometimes it feels like I'm reading a different poet altogether.

For instance, a line "Hermano, hermano!" is translated as "Hermano, hermano!" in the English, though it could have plainly been have translated as "Brother, brother!" considering the second "hermano" is not capitalized. Perhaps this was Neruda's original intent, but there is no way to tell as there are no footnotes.

Poetry is about texture, a poet's voice, and brilliance in how the artist uses his words to paint; this translation doesn't do enough to convey the voice of Neruda, but merely makes it accessible to new readers of not only Neruda, but also poetry.

Neruda’s poetry is resplendent and beautiful. You’ll want to learn Spanish, if only to read Neruda’s poetry in its original form:

“Inclinado en las tardes tiro mis tristes redes a tus ojos oceanicos. Alli se estira y arde en la mas alta hoguera mi soledad que da vueltas los brazos como un naufrago.” (Veinte Poemas De Amor:7)

The collection of poetry found in The Essential Neruda was curated by Neruda scholars, with the intent to cover the breadth and width of Neruda’s various styles and themes. Overall, it’s an excellent starting point to becoming acquainted with - as Columbian novelist Gabriel García Márquez once said - "the greatest poet of the 20th century in any language."

A relatively new collection of Neruda poems with some new translations. I loved the introduction to this collection. The editor describes how he (the editor) came about with the idea of creating a book with new and updated translations of Neruda. This book was a work of love by the editor…the love of Neruda, the love of the Spanish language, the love of poetry.

My favorite books of Neruda are those with dual translations (Spanish on one side and English on the facing page). Although my Spanish is fairly limited, there is something magical about seeing Neruda’s words in their original language.

I enjoyed the cross-section of poems that the editor selected and have only one complaint that I would have liked to see the poems separated in sections, perhaps by publishing dates/books they were originally published in/themes.

This would be a great addition to anyone’s Neruda collection or a wonderful introduction to someone new to Neruda.

We begin most days by reading poetry. Quite simply, this is among the very best volumes we've encountered. Whether Neruda is writing about love, loss, the sea, forests, childhood, growing old, poetry itself or old friends, the images he crafts are fresh - sometimes so otherworldly they're startling, at other times so rooted in common experience they feel tangible. These are poems to be read, savored and reread many times.

Translating poetry is tricky but, when done well, you should be able to get a feel for the quirks of the original language. In this respect, this translation is completely inconsistent and absolutely terrible. The problem with retranslating old works is simple: the translator is forced to either be innovative or admit that his services aren't needed.

Here's what "Me gustas cuando callas" says in Spanish:
"Parece que tus ojos te hubieran volado, y parece que un beso te cerrara la boca."
"It seems your eyes have flown from you, and it seems a kiss would close your mouth."

And here's how these goobers have interpreted it (for I can't call it translation):
"It's as if your eyes had flown away from you, and as if your mouth were closed because I leaned to kiss you."

The original is stark, direct, and beautiful. Their translation is inaccurate, clumsy, and pulls an entire phrase out of nowhere (because I leaned to kiss you).

If the editors were better poets than Neruda (and somewhat worthy of tampering with his work) we would be reading their poems, not his. If they were decent translators, they wouldn't dare to make such bold adjustments. Obviously, they are neither.

The poems of Neruda are startling reflections that move in long lines toward surprising conclusions. His love poems, the greatest of which I do not believe are included in this volume are so filled with the wild viccisitudes of passion that they are among the greatest in any language. Here a host of devoted and competent translators take a rich variety of his poems and make them move in English with what I suspect is something of their original Spanish rhythm. The text of the original is even for those who do not know the language well a necessary accompaniment to the translation. Even if one reads the original without understanding it one can catch something of the voice of the Neruda for whom Poetry was as vital and universal as bread.

Earlier today, Pablo Neruda was exhumed from a simple tomb on his beloved Isla Negra,where he was buried and has lain for these past forty years . This may, after forensic investigation, lay to rest what so many have long suspected - that Pablo Neruda was murdered by members of the Pinochet regime.
Today, as I saw pictures of his tomb on Isla Negra, as his body was being disenterred from the simple rocks and stones that were his resting place, I decided to read some poems in homage of one of the greatest poets of the past century, perhaps of any century...and, in so doing, came upon this book in the store's collection, which I've ordered,though not yet read, and,although I read many selections available in this limited viewing,it was only a small portion of the book. Keeping these limitations in mind, here is my opinion:

The selection of Neruda's work here is excellent, and, for someone unfamiliar with the Spanish, it is an excellent place to start-definitely the best, most thorough,uncomplicated, thoughtful selection possible of the bi-lingual options available on the store. If you read nothing else, you will get a good smattering of Neruda's most important and beloved works. In truth, I have rarely read translations of his work before, and am unfamiliar with all the translators, save for Alastair Reid, who is as intelligent, charismatic and full of life as Neruda must have been,and,I'm sure he brings those qualities here.

Sadly, ALL the translators have British surnames, bringing that pedigree along to the Spanish language. Thus, I find some of the poems- the love poems- lacking in passion and expression. Some are simply too Germanic for my taste.Though I, too, am British, I had a Chilean mother, and that has significance here. Much of the passion, irony and humor are lost in these translations, along with Neruda's occasionally taciturn quality.The flow of the language, the syncopated, unexpected stops and starts that are so often exciting about poetry in general, is missing here.

It is only on rare occasion true that the translation can be as good or better than the original,as in Gregory Rabassa's translation to Gabriel Garcia Marquez' One Hundred Years of Solitude, but no one should expect such excellence. Yet...I found those love poems soggy, distinctly soggy.
Where could one find better translations? I do not know the answer to that..

For those who speak even a smattering of Spanish, the selection is the best offering I've seen. For those who do not, I'm afraid that much will be lost which may have been captured elsewhere. I give it a four for the excellence of selection and for the presumption that many of the poems which I haven't yet seen will be excellently translated here,as well.

This book is an awesome work with splendid poems that have something to say to everyone.

Side-by-side texts with their translations are great in making the reader evaluate the meanings and nuances in both languages.

I love these verses:

"And the air came in with orange-blossom fingers
over all those asleep:
a thousand years of air, months, weeks of air,
of blue wind, of iron cordillera,
that were like soft hurricanes of footsteps
polishing the lonely boundary of the stone."

The imagery is vivid and thrilling, like in these verses:

"Full woman, carnal apple, hot moon,
thick smell of seaweed, crushed mud and light,
what obscure clarity opens between your columns?
What ancient night does man touch with his senses?"

I can recommend this poetry to anyone

As a former student of Spanish literature, I have always held a deep appreciation for the work of Pablo Neruda. I have often wished to share the beauty of his work with friends and family - yet many of them have found Neruda translations to be inaccessible. I have also found that many of the other translations are stilted or do not properly recreate the rhythm and imagery of the Spanish original.
The Essential Neruda combines an excellent overview of Neruda's work with accesible and faithful translation. Whether you are new to the poetry of Pablo Neruda or have already read every one of his works - the Essential Neruda will give you valuable insight into his art and an appreciation of cutting-edge poetry translation.
This book also launched a non-profit organization and on-line community dedicated to Neruda and his work.

Check out [...] to learn about contemporary Neruda translation and scholarship, Chilean politics and more.

It also shows how you can get involved with the legacy of Neruda.

The Essential Neruda: Selected Poems is a wonderful translation of some of Pablo Neruda's greatest poems. The amazing cast of translators who contributed to this work provide an incredible amount of talent to one project. I saw the editor, Mark Eisner, give a discussion in Traverse City, Michigan and found his talk to be very rich and thoughtful. His desire to convey the passions of Neruda's work to an English reading audience is evident in The Essential Neruda. Don't overlook this one if you have even the slightest interest in Neruda!

Drawn into the appeal of Pablo Neruda through an art project, I

approached this collection of poems taped together and bound by

a red sleeve at a local bookstore. I was moreoverly surprised

at how entrancing and delicately eloquent Neruda's writing style

was--even transcribed from spanish to english. The editor, Mark

Eisner did a fantastic job with the translations, and I didn't

feel like I was succombing to "Kung-Fu movie" subtitles as I

would have expected. This collection brought Neruda's poetry to

a managable and palpable understanding, such as I needed to

thoroughly perceive it. Though Chile, Neruda's homeland, is, as

any other cultured region would be, variable to my own, it

continued to bring insights to my own observations of life--and

all the beauty and exquisite allure contained in it.

A careful selection of fifty of Neruda's poems from his lifetime oeuvre, this book is truly essential for new fans of Neruda, offering a wonderful introduction, as well as for long time afficianados, presenting fresh translations by an all star cast of poets, both Chilean and American. This aspect, along with the beautiful layout of Spanish and English side by side on the page, the book has a balanced feel, compelling to readeres interested in decisions in translation, linguistics, or who just love great poetry.

This collection is by far the most thoughtful and persuasive introduction to Neruda available--it really is "essential." The translations are some of the best ever published (to be sure, it's an impressive line-up of contributors), and the editor obviously deeply knows and honors the material. I am a college professor, and I plan to use this work in my classroom. If you are lucky enough to be heading to Chile, this is the one Neruda book to carry you through your travels...to introduce you to that beautiful poetic country.

I lost sleep last night to devour its last page...I love a night like last night where a book keeps me awake like a lover.

This collection is the juice of a cool of mango on a scathing summer day, I tasted radience in the words!! I immediately got more to give as presents to friends in love.

This collection is a falling in love with life and shouldn't be missed!

This beautiful collection of poetry contains both English & Spanish versions of Neruda's poetry. It contains great breadth & depth at the core and encompasses the vastness of Neruda's work - love, politics, everyday life, landscape. This is a GREAT gift book!

For those of you - like me - who may be intimidated by those huge tomes and volumes of poetry, this is perfect for you. It's a very manageable collection of work from one of the most influential writers of the past century. His writings ring eerily true today, and provide a sense of solace and solidarity between what Neruda had to live through and what many of us are feeling during Bush's regime.

Neruda can't be mentioned and written about enough. Unfortunately still too little known in te U.S., hopefelly this well archieved publication will add to change that. Congratulations from Southern Chile, WS.

Good day!

Please could you tell me if Sonnet LXVI (66) (No te quiero sino porque te quiero...) is included in this book (The Essential Neruda)? I want to give Pablo Neruda's book to a dear friend and want to make sure this poem is there. Or if you know the edition where it is included, I would much appreciate it if you could let me know.

Thank you very much,
Olga

I highly recommend this edition! It's wonderful to go back and forth, line to line, reading the English translations first, then the original Spanish. Translations are fluid! A fantastic way to introduce yourself to one of the greatest poets of all time!

M.Eisner has compiled an elegant presentation of the profound Pablo's soulful echo. The translations are smooth and majestic. He has clearly discovered the light radiating from Neruda's heart. Thank you for this lovely red poppy edition!

Wow... the translation to English is awful!!!! Really bad, they miss very key words and the true meaning of so many sentences! I.e. in one of the poems Neruda means "surrender" and the translator writes "giving", in another one Neruda talks about a lover being "distant, aloof, absentminded" and translator writes "you look as if you are far".
That isn't it,, several, numerous errors which causes the English reader to miss the true content of his poems...what a shame! It's the reader's right to be aware of these important flaws.
They should take this book off the shelves, review the English version, edit and have translation re-assigned to a different publisher.