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Splendor and Death of Joaquin Murieta (Bilingual Edition)

by Neruda, Pablo, Belitt, Ben

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Paperback $8.49
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"The specter of Joaquin Murieta," Pablo Neruda writes in his foreword, "still rides the California countryside. Whoever approaches the truth or the legend of this bandit will feel the charismatic force of his gaze. His beheading is the subject of this cantata."

Joaquin Murieta, the historical person, was a Chilean highwayman who was captured and executed in California on July 24, 1853. The hero of this dramatic poem is an adventurous young man who sails from Valparaiso to San Francisco in 1849-50 with his wife, Teresa, and his friend, Three-Fingered Jack, to strike it rich in the goldfields. But, as Neruda puts it, Murieta "never guessed that his nationality would be divided and his personality diminished."

Vigilantes hunt the Chileans down, and rape and kill Teresa. In revenge, Joaquin Murieta turns bandit, robbing the rich to help his own people. His success and fame become legendary, and a reward is offered for his capture. After his beheading, his head is exhibited to make the people believe he really is dead. But in Neruda's play, the head of Murieta continues to speak, telling the truth about his life and death.

With an essay entitled "Why Joaquin Murieta?" by the poet, and an introduction by the translator. 
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