mad_hatter 's review for:

The Essential Neruda: Selected Poems by John Felstiner, Alastair Reid, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Pablo Neruda, Robert Hass, Stephen Mitchell, Mark Eisner, Forrest Gander, Jack Hirschman, Stephen Kessler
4.5

Neruda's voice is so distinctive. It is earthy yet disembodied, obsessive, and lonely. The natural world is filled with terrors and specters, yet hauntingly beautiful. 

I can barely understand Spanish, yet his poetry still sings, crossing cultural and language barriers. One can also see the soul and passion in the translators' works. An excellent collection that provides a balanced coverage of his prolific writings.