Pablo Neruda wrote the poems in Los versos del capitan as a celebration of his love for his third wife, Matilde Urrutia - a love affair that is itself celebrated in the acclaimed film Il Postino . Originally published anonymously in 1952 to spare his second wifes feelings, this bilingual edition is the books first publication in Britain. Brian Coles translations display all the qualities of vivid imagery, sensuousness, simplicity and passion for which Nerudas poetry is famous.