From Late to Posthumous Poems

This chapter encompasses Neruda’s poetic production during his latest years, which has been divided into two sections: late and posthumous poems published in books. Neruda’s literary fame was cemented in his previous work, Veinte poemas de amor y una canción desesperada ( Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair , 1924), Residencia en la tierra ( Residence on Earth , 1933, 1935, 1947), Canto general (1950), and Odas elementales ( Elemental Odes , 1954–57). In general, critics and general readers have overlooked Neruda’s late body of work, which reflected a post-millennial futurity. He announced this visionary approach in both Aún ( Still Another Day , 1969) and Fin de mundo ( World’s End , 1969), but the best summary of his take on futurity can be found in his posthumous 2000 (1974).