The Captain's Verses (Los versos del Capitan) (New Directions Paperbook) [Paperback]

Pablo Neruda (Author), Donald D. Walsh (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1988

A classic poetry book in a masterful bilingual edition Long before he received the 1971 Nobel Prize, Pablo Neruda had attained worldwide recognition as one of the most important figures in contemporary poetry. A fiery poet of leftist politics, he was also a fiery poet of love. This translation of "The Captain's Verses" is a major achievement in the genre of love poetry. Neruda originally published the book anonymously, some years before he married Matilde Urrutia, to whom he had addressed these poems of passionate devotion as well as love's quarrel's. The first "acknowledged" edition appeared in 1963. In this collection, the Chilean poet's brilliant images are expressed with remarkable directness and simplicity. Donald D. Walsh's translations are presented with the original Spanish verse en face.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A revolution... a classic by which masterpieces are judged. -- Review

The greatest poet of the twentieth century—in any language. -- Gabriel García Márquez --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Language Notes

Text: English, Spanish (translation)
Original Language: Spanish

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Product Details

• Paperback: 151 pages
• Publisher: New Directions Publishing Corporation; 21st edition (February 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081120457X
• ISBN-13: 978-0811204576
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #888,393 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rapture and Pathos brought alive, June 12, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Captain's Verses (Los versos del Capitan) (New Directions Paperbook) (Paperback)

I picked up this book, never having read Neruda before, and expecting quite good poetry. I had to stop reading, after several poems; Pablo Neruda's love poetry was so intensely powerful that it overwhelmed my senses. He wrote brilliantly and passionately of the feelings of his soul, at once enthralling yet brutally candid. You suffered along him, you loved the woman he loved. The verses he wrote express the ineffable and indescribable. And the earthly images he creates are potent, almost too potent. His poetry fills your senses and enwraps your soul

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh my god., August 1, 1998

By 

Jesus Pantoja Jr. ([e-mail]) (Los Angeles, Ca.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Captain's Verses (Los versos del Capitan) (New Directions Paperbook) (Paperback)

If there ever was a person who could express what your first love felt like, it is Neruda. He uses words to allow feelings and deep emotions to flow from the heart and soul. I was overwhelmed by the feeling I had when first reading some of the poems. If there ever was a person who spoke from deep within one's self it is Neruda. This is a book you should learn spanish for, the words are so much more beautiful in his native tongue.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most beloved book of poetry that I own, December 30, 2002

By 

ShayShay (Warner Robins, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Captain's Verses (Los versos del Capitan) (New Directions Paperbook) (Paperback)

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.