The Captain's Verses by Pablo Neruda

The Captain's Verses

by Pablo Neruda

This dual language edition is reissued as a Carcanet Classic.

Pablo Neruda wrote the poems in Los versos del capitán as a celebration of his love for his third wife, Matilde Urrutia – a love affair that is itself celebrated in the acclaimed film Il Postino. Originally published anonymously in 1952 to spare his second wife’s feelings, this bilingual edition is the book’s first publication in Britain. Brian Cole’s translations display all the qualities of vivid imagery, sensuousness, simplicity and passion for which Neruda’s poetry is famous.

Reviewed by jamiereadthis on

5 of 5 stars

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I want you straight as
the sword or the road.

But you insist
on keeping a nook
of shadow that I do not want.


(The Question)

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  • 13 January, 2020: Reviewed