TWENTY POEMS de NERUDA, Pablo. BLY, Robert and WRIGHT, James (translators) - 1967

Twenty Poems
NERUDA, Pablo; Translated by Robert Bly and James Wright.
London: Rapp & Whiting, 1968.

Signed on the half-title page.

First edition of Neruda's classic work. Octavo, original cloth.
Boldly signed by Pablo Neruda on the half-title page. Fine copy in a very good edge-rubbed, price-clipped dust jacket.
Jacket design by Lawrence Edwards. Translated by Robert Bly and James Wright.

Neruda's second published work, Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair initially appeared in Santiago in 1924; Neruda was 19 years old. The work gained a controversial reputation for its arresting eroticism, especially considering its author's very young age. The work remains the best selling poetry book in the Spanish language ever published. "Pablo Neruda is the greatest poet of the twentieth century-in any language" (Gabriel Garcia Marquez).

Madison: The Sixties Press, 1967 First printing of the first English/Spanish bilingual edition. Signed and inscribed by Robert Bly directly on the front-free endpage (along with an original page size drawing by Bly): "For Carol / Self portrait of Poet in Lac Qui Parle County in the Summer / Robert Bly." Light toning to head and foot of spine and a name printed on the outer bottom page edge, else book in fine condition; dust jacket with moderate paper loss to edges and toning to spine and cover margins, else fine.

London: Rapp & Whiting, 1968 First printing of the first British Bilingual (English/Spanish) edition. Signed by Robert Bly directly on the title-page. Book in fine condition; dust jacket with a hint of shelf-wear, else fine. A beautiful copy.

Madison: The Sixties Press, 1967 First printing of the first bilingual, English/Spanish edition. Signed and dated, in year of publication, by Robert Bly directly on the front endpage: "Best Wishes / Robert Bly / Dec 20, 67." Toning to spine and cover margins and a small stain to lower front fold, else book and dust jacket in fine condition.