Other parts of Latin American also inspired Neruda and his work as well. For example, when he visited Machu Picchu he was inspired to write Alturas de Macchu Picchu, which is a 12-part poem about the ancient American civilizations. Further, he attended the University of Chile when he was only 16. At the time, he was considering becoming a teacher.
Pablo Neruda also traveled the world extensively. The government employed him to participate on honorary consulships. He visited locations including Burma, Ceylon, Madrid and Singapore. He was also appointed consul for the Spanish emigration and lived in Paris. Pablo Neruda also resided in Mexico after being appointed Consul General in Mexico.
In addition to being a poet, Neruda was also a politician. In 1945 in Brazil, he read to 100,000 people to honor Communist leader Luis Carlos Prestes. Throughout his life, Neruda supported Communism. He even was a collaborator with Chilean President Salvador Allende, who was a socialist. However, it is important to note that Neruda himself was nominated as a presidential candidate.
Pablo Neruda’s work has been translated into many languages, but, of course, it is most powerful if you can read it in its original Spanish. This is one of the many benefits you will gain by attending a Spanish immersion program. While people around the world cherish Neruda’s work, not everyone has the opportunity to read it in its native language.