Pablo Neruda, born Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto, was a renowned Chilean poet, diplomat, and politician. He was born on 12 July 1904 in Parral, Chile, and passed away on 23 September 1973 in Isla Negra, Chile. Neruda is celebrated for his diverse body of poetry, ranging from surrealist poems to historical epics, political manifestos, and passionate love poems. His collection "Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair" (1924) remains one of his most famous works.

Neruda's poetry and political involvement earned him the 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature. He held various diplomatic roles and was a senator for the Chilean Communist Party. A significant period of his life involved hiding from authorities after communism was outlawed in Chile in 1948, which led to his escape to Argentina in 1949.

His connections with Chilean politics were profound, being an advisor to President Salvador Allende. Despite being hospitalized for cancer in September 1973 during the Pinochet coup, suspicions arose around his death, with some alleging it was due to foul play rather than natural causes.

Neruda is often titled the national poet of Chile, with his influence extending globally. Celebrated novelist Gabriel García Márquez once praised him as "the greatest poet of the 20th century in any language."