Pablo Neruda’s Veinte Poemas de Amor y Una CanciA3n Desesperada (1924) is perhaps the most widely read and best loved book of poetry ever written in Spanish. Its verses can be recited by heart by millions of Latin Americans from every conceivable background and walk of life, and it has acquired the status of a bible for young lovers. This new critical edition - the first to include critical notes in English - argues that the book constitutes a critical juncture in the young Neruda’s development as a poet.