José Carlos Rovira, a Professor Emeritus of Latin American Literature at the University of Alicante, together with Professor Abel Villaverde, gathers the poetry and prose of Chilean writer Pablo Neruda, a lifelong devotee of Spain. This volume reflects Neruda’s enduring relationship with the country, exploring works written about Spain from various moments of his career. The preface is authored by the Chilean poet Raúl Zurita, and the book marks the 50th anniversary of Neruda’s passing, framing the collection as a homage to the poet’s Spanish years and the cultural ties between Chile and Spain.
Spain that fascinated Pablo Neruda
The compilation opens with selections from poetry and reflections on Earth, recalling Neruda’s early Spanish-language verse and his responses to Spain’s literary landscape. The volume gathers passages that echo Neruda’s admiration for Federico García Lorca, whose memory and influence are felt throughout Neruda’s own work. Readers meet Neruda’s reverence for Miguel de Cervantes’ era through interwoven allusions, as well as his engagement with 20th-century Spanish poetry—from the gauzy elegies to the stark, political calls voiced by Ramón Gómez de la Serna. The prose anchors Neruda’s thought with studies of figures like Azorín in intimate settings, and it places the poet’s meditation on the death of Antonio Machado within a broader arc of Spanish literary history. The last youthful ardor of Neruda finds resonance with the mature lucidity of Alberti and other contemporaries, as the volume threads Neruda’s evolving perception of Spain into a cohesive portrait that blends homage with critical reflection.
Within the framework of the project, the scholars present a curated dialogue between Neruda’s Spanish readings and his own poetic and prosaic responses. The editors illuminate how Neruda perceived Spain not only as a place of aesthetic inspiration but also as a stage where political memory, cultural exchange, and personal affinity converged. The collection thus becomes a map of Neruda’s sensibility toward Spain, revealing how geography, history, and literature braided together in his work across different decades. The editors also emphasize Neruda’s sustained attention to Spanish life, landscapes, and the people who shaped both his imagination and his political conscience.
The publication of the book is a collaborative event organized by the University of Alicante and the University of Talca in Chile. The presentation takes place on Wednesday, May 10, at the Alicante city headquarters of the UA. The program features a live connection with Raúl Zurita, who serves as director from Chile, and Beatriz Aracil, director of the Mario Benedetti Center for Ibero-American Studies at the UA. Marcela Albornoz and Carmen Alemany, editors affiliated with the University of Talca in Chile, participate as editors-in-chief and share insights about their collaboration with Neruda’s editors and researchers. Their remarks illuminate the practicalities and rewards of cross-border scholarly work that bridges Chilean and Spanish literary communities.
The event will be held in person and will be accessible via live streaming for audiences beyond Alicante. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of Neruda’s Spanish connections and the ways in which his voice traveled between continents, shaping readers’ appreciation of his broader oeuvre. The live format offers a dynamic opportunity to explore Neruda’s place within Spain’s literary memory and to hear perspectives from scholars who bring first-hand experience of Neruda’s reception in both hemispheres.
This gathering is positioned as more than a literary commemoration. It serves as a platform for ongoing dialogue about Neruda’s influence, the transmission of Latin American poetry in Europe, and the enduring relevance of his introspective and cosmopolitan stance. By foregrounding Neruda’s Spanish encounters, the event invites admission to a broader conversation about how poets transmit cultural memory across borders and generations. The edited volume contributes a nuanced layer to Neruda studies, inviting researchers, students, and general readers to traverse the intersection of Spain and Chile through a poet who remains a central figure in both national literatures. (Cited: organizing universities and participating editors)