Pablo Neruda

Born in southern Chile on July 12, 1904, as Ricardo Eliezer Neftalí Reyes y Basoalto, Pablo Neruda lived a life of poetic and political activity. He sold his possessions to finance the publication of his first book Crepusculario (Twilight) in 1923. He published it under the pseudonym Pablo Neruda to avoid conflict with his family, who did not approve of his profession. In 1924 at the age of 20, he published Veinte poems de amor y una cancion des desesperada (Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair), earning himself celebrity status. In 1927 he began his career as a diplomat. Neruda was an avid supporter of the Communist Party after joining in 1943 and consequently lived in exile from 1948-52 after communism was outlawed in Chile. Neruda received numerous awards during his lifetime, including the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971. He passed away from cancer on September 23, 1973.

poetryfoundation.org/bio/pablo-neruda

Pablo Neruda is featured in Edition: Love + Sex baby