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Sonnets by Pablo Neruda |
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A Poet of Passions
At the age of nineteen, he published his first book. At the age of sixty-seven, he won the Nobel Prize. In the years in between, Pablo Neruda traveled the world and pursued his two passions: poetry and politics. Visit The Nobel Foundation to find out more about the eventful life of this great poet.
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“Borges and Myself” by Jorge Luis Borges |
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I, Unfortunately, Am Borges
Borges was an intense and influential writer, but not everyone knew what to make of him. Perceived as a threat by some, Borges was trailed by government agents. Others, however, recognized him as a visionary and considered him Argentina’s greatest writer. Visit this biography of Jorge Luis Borges, and follow the forking paths of his extraordinary life.
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Quite an Impression
It’s one thing to have fans pin your picture to their walls. It’s quite another to have your face stamped on the coins and postage stamps of an entire nation. Visit this site and see how memories of Borges travel the world in letter bags and wallets, just as his ideas still travel in the minds of his readers.
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“Wind and Water and Stone” by Octavio Paz |
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Stars and Crickets
In 1990, Octavio Paz was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature. Visit the Nobel Prize Web site to catch a glimpse of the award itself, listen to Paz’s Nobel lecture in Spanish, read about his life, learn of Paz’s deep concern for the environment, and discover the poem that was inspired by the connection he felt between the stars and a cricket.
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The Desert Landscape
“Wind and Water and Stone” describes the cycles of nature in a desert environment. Visit a desert environment yourself with a trip to the Sonoran Desert, which is located partly in the states of Arizona and California, and partly in Mexico. At the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Web site, you can stroll through exhibits that display the desert’s wide variety of plant and animal life, including the giant saguaro cactus, hummingbirds, butterflies, black-tailed prairie dogs, and even otters.
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Nightmare Into Creation
Through his poetry, Octavio Paz sought to transform the “shapeless horror” of history into beautiful and enduring works of art. Open the pages of The Boston Globe to find out how Paz sought both to discover and to create his world. Then, read excerpts from more of Paz’s work for a glimpse of the world he authored.
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“The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World” by Gabriel García Márquez |
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Telling Lies with a Poker Face
His grandmother told unbelievable stories as if they were fact. When Gabriel García Márquez tried it himself, he won the Nobel Prize. Visit The Nobel Foundation for a closer look at a writer who loves writing about “the wildest things with a completely natural tone of voice.”
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“And of Clay Are We Created” by Isabel Allende |
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And of Family Are We Shaped
Isabel Allende claims writing about her family is easy—her relatives are extravagant people with soap opera lives. Step into Allende’s home on the Web, walk through her photo gallery, and allow Allende to introduce you to the people who have shaped her life and work. Before you leave, be sure to stop by Curiosities and Books for a deeper understanding of the author and her writing.
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“A Walk to the Jetty” from Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid |
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A Walk Through Her Garden
When Jamaica Kincaid isn’t writing books, she spends her time planting gardens that resemble maps of her native West Indies. As an avid gardener, Kincaid has many interesting thoughts about what makes a good garden—and a good gardener. To find out just what she believes, read excerpts from her book My Garden at the Seattle Arts and Lecture Web site.
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