Canto General (Biblioteca Breve) (Spanish Edition) [Paperback]

Pablo Neruda (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Canto general"" es un clasico de la literatura hispanoamericana y de la poesia universal de este siglo, al que Neruda llamo en sus ""Memorias"" mi ""libro mas importante"". Obra de caracter enciclopedico, reune multiples temas, generos y tecnicas bajo un denominador comun: America, constituyendo una historia marginal del continente. Obras maestras como el gran poema ""Alturas de Macchu Picchu"" forman parte del libro. --Los editores --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Language Notes

Text: Spanish --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 462 pages
• Publisher: Planeta (August 2003)
• Language: Spanish
• ISBN-10: 9507313710
• ISBN-13: 978-9507313714
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,557,271 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Pablo Neruda is regarded as the greatest Latin American poet of the 20th century. Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1971, his breadth of vision and wide range of themes are extraordinary, and his work continues to inspire new generations of writers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Epic poetic narrative, August 4, 2002

By 

Glenn McDorman (Denver) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Canto General (Spanish Language Edition) (Paperback)

Neruda's Canto General is a poetic retelling of the history of South and Central America from the late pre-Columbian era to the middle of the twentieth century. The book is set up like a novel, with chapters and subheadings, a straight-line narration, and a cast of characters. Neruda's communist ideology is visible throughout the work and is a major theme. Canto General leaves the reader with an interesting impression of American history seen through the eyes of the impoversihed people of South America, as well as an idea of how third-world communists perceive reality. This is truly an excellent work, and should be read by everyone.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly the American Bible., June 23, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Canto General (Spanish Language Edition) (Paperback)

This is one of Neruda's greatest books. It is a jorney through the history of the American Continent, from its creation, to its conquest until the present day. Most readers will know it from its chapter 'Hights of Machu Picchu' but it is certainly more than that.

It is a review of 500 hundred years of history, of war, of love, of betray. Obviously the book is a reflection of Neruda's left wing inclination, but that only adds to the book.

In Chile and other parts of Latin America this book is called "The American Bible" and it truly is. Along with Residencia en la Tierra, it is probably Neruda's finest. And is probably the book in which Neruda became what he though his role as a poet ought to be "a voice for all who had no voice".