Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) is regarded by many as one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. Born in rural Chile he moved to the capital, Santiago, and published his first book in 1923. During the 20s and 30s he served as a diplomat and was ambassador to Spain at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. This event profoundly changed his writing style to one of addressing social and political concerns. He returned to Chile in 1938 but spent many years in exile due to political conditions. Neruda won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1971. Marjorie Agosin is a poet, writer and human rights activist. She is also a professor of Spanish at Wellesley College and editor of our Secret Weavers Series.