Neruda

Volodia Teitelboim (1916-2008) was a noted Chilean politician and lawyer, as well as the author of numerous books.Beverly J. DeLong-Tonelli is Professor Emerita of Romance Languages and Literature at California State University, Long Beach.

• Translator’s ForewordPreliminary NotePart One. From Rain to War I. Frontier Boy 1. Visiting His Mother2. Farewell to Parral3. Return4. A Camp City5. His “Momother”6. The Brusque Father7. I Don’t Know How or When . . .8. A Dream?9. Childhood Friends10. The First Poet11. The Ostrich12. A Boy Knocks on Gabriela’s Door13. Stammering Poet14. Boy and Pianos15. His Brother’s Birthday16. Beginnings17. Prose Writer of Necessity?II. Twilight Youth 18. The Crazy Twenties19. Unamuno and Patriotism’s Stockholders20. Boardinghouses and Tenements21. Maruri and Twilights22. Why “Neruda”?23. The Student24. Friendship and Bohemia25. Flown Away26. Pablo de Rokha27. The Girl from Temuco28. Women and Their Poems29. Incandescent Pollen30. A Tomb for Birds31. The Girl from Santiago32. A Strange Violator of Secrets33. Love and Poetry34. The Verse Changes: The Woman Remains the Same35. Letters as Confession and Anguish36. The Period of the Sturgeon-thin Poet37. Farewell38. Crisis in Bohemia39. The Lazy Man Who Works Like a Factory40. Writers and Elephants41. To the Islands42. DepartureIII. Anguish and Creation in the Orient 43. Pressures from Afar44. Responsibilities in Batavia45. Family Letters46. Vigils and Dreams on the Crossing47. Solitude in Burma48. Ambitions and Desires49. Messages from a Castaway50. Doubts in Rangoon51. Realism in Residence52. Letters from the Orient53. Solemn Communique54. Return to “Maligna”IV. Writing in the School of Hard Knocks 55. The Poet and the Mask56. Song of Songs?57. Two-man Bullfight58. Arrival at the Main Office59. Two Unique Consuls60. Misfortunes61. “Ant” or “Neighbor”?62. Dogs and Poets63. A Warm Welcome64. Affinities65. Controversies66. Rectification67. The Polemic over the Anthology and Tagore’s Gardener68. A Heavyweight Fighter69. On the Eve . . .70. Execution in Viznar71. Why the Change?72. The Book on Spain73. The Poet in the Street and a Femme Fatale74. Literary Passions75. President of Intellectuals76. Water of Life and DeathPart Two. Passion and Death V. His Discovery of America 77. Accursed Cities78. Elections in Chile79. Houses80. Operation “Salvage”81. The Winnipeg Adventure Continues82. Reflection of the Spanish Experience83. Repentance84. Magical and Violent Country85. Mexican Miscellany86. Battles, Serenades, and Slashes87. Ascent to Origins88. Personal and Extrapersonal Meaning of Machu Picchu89. Four Journeys90. An Unusual Speech91. Congressional Debut92. The Problem of Time93. The Honorable Mr. Reyes Praises Lucila Godoy Alcayaga94. Pro Memoria95. Strange Waltz96. The Great Somersault97. The Poet Accuses98. Clandestine Life99. Looking for a Way Out100. Preparations in the Forest101. Toward the Ends of the EarthVI. The World Voyage 102. Saint Martin of Free Men103. The Charge to Publish the General Song104. Parisian Debut105. Europe Makes a Discovery106. The Wind of the Old New World107. Farewell to the Senate108. Encounter with Pushkin109. The Verse Underlined by a Young Suicide110. Love and Phlebitis111. Conversation with Exiles112. Italian Interlude113. The Two-headed Woman114. Polygamy and Disinformation115. Welcome at Home116. The Intellectuals Gather117. Joy and Sadness of SofrÉ the Bird118. Tales and Tallies119. The Prize Adventure120. Donations, Foundations, and EquivocationsVII. Narrator of Himself 121. Fifty Hurrahs and Two Condemnations122. Houses and Women123. The Breakup124. The Invisible Man Makes an Appearance125. The War of Less Than a Hundred Years126. Exchanging Titles127. Neruda Yes, Neruda No128. Clear Days and Cloudy Ones129. Sebastiana and Wine Pitchers130. The Party Man131. Epistles132. A Forgotten Heroine133. Earthquake in His Childhood Land134. History’s Bearded Men135. The Joking Bird136. Outlines137. Airy and Earthly Poetry138. Mysterious Simultaneity of Ideas139. Three-dimensional Man140. With the Turk and the Spaniard141. Civil Registry Official142. The Burden of Fame143. Summing Up and Self-analysis144. His Companion William Shakespeare145. Feet Blue with Cold146. The Book of the Bountiful Table147. Kites148. The Impersonator149. Paparazzi Ire at the Nuptial Hour150. The Mythical Bandit151. Jorge Sanhueza152. Real Birds and Riddle Birds153. The House with the Blue Flag154. The Lilt of the Barcarole155. The Mapuche Trutruca Horn and the Troubadour156. The Shell Collector157. A Bit of Philosophy158. Standard Bearer159. An Unusual Campaign160. A Deaf Old Man with an Accordion161. The Poet and His Century162. Interdisciplinary Madmen163. The City of the Caesars164. Stones, Wait for Me!165. Midnight Speech and Morning ConversationVIII. The Song of the Ancient Mariner 166. Upsetting News167. The Swedish Decision168. Flashbulb Time169. Jubilation at Home170. Red Corpuscles171. Revelation172. A Castle in the Air173. Futurism’s Sister174. The Albatross Country175. Projects and Relapses176. Araucanian Stone177. The Cantalao Dream178. Tapestries of the Poor179. Revised Dedications180. On Alert181. The Overcoat182. Posthumous Work183. Memoirs and Manuscripts184. Farewell185. Death in the Midst of Death186. The Errant Coffin187. Unwelcome Visitors188. The Cortege189. Until We Meet Again!190. It So Happens I Will Live On191. Postscript of 12 July 1984192. Six Months LaterNotesIndex of Names

Teitelboim’s biography may well serve as the most important reference on Neruda’s life and spirit because he maintains a historical distance between the reader and his subject. Teitelboim’s Neruda is close enough to present a penetrating study of the poet, yet it is objective enough to sustain critical perspective. The book spans Neruda’s career from birth until after his death, enabling the reader to glimpse the poet through the mirror of his friend. (Journal of Third World Studies) The author, a Chilean novelist and politician who was a confidant of Pablo Neruda (1904–1973) for 40 years, rescues the poet from the pedestal of myth in this sweepingly lyrical, highly personal biography. ... Teitelboim skillfully links the creative artist to the public figure by interweaving beautifully translated verses by Neruda with the main narrative. (Publishers Weekly)