Pablo Neruda (1904-1973)


Death: 23rd September 1973
Location: Casa de Isla Negra, Isla Negra, Santiago, Chile
Cause of Death: Heart Attack / Failure
Photo taken by: Heather Ashley
Buy books by Pablo Neruda.

Chilean poet. Winner of the 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature for a poetry 'that with the action of an elemental force brings alive a continent's destiny and dreams'. 
His pen name was derived from the Czech writer Jan Neruda. He intended to become a teacher, but he soon devoted himself to writing full-time. In 1948 Neruda went into exile after criticising Chilean leader González Videla. During his exile he travelled throughout Europe and his stay on the island of Capri was fictionalized in the film Il Postino
He returned to Chile in 1952. In 1970 he was nominated as a candidate for the presidency of Chile, but instead he gave his support to Salvador Allende who became the first democratically elected socialist head of state. However this was short lived as in 1973 a military coup occurred, led by General Augusto Pinochet. Neruda died twelve days after the coup.

Comments