Have you ever wondered how a Chilean poet ended up immortalized in a bronze bust in Prague? Here, in front of you, stands the Pomník Pabla Nerudy, a tribute to Pablo Neruda, the Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet. Even though the statue seems to be an out-of-place element in this Czech city, it holds a special meaning to the connection between these two countries. Neruda, whose real name was Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto, adopted the pseudonym “Pablo Neruda” in his youth.
But why choose “Neruda”? It’s a Czech name, after all. The legend says Neruda was inspired by the Czech poet and writer Jan Neruda, who lived during the 19th century. While plausible, that doesn’t appear to be quite true. Neruda himself never gave a clear answer. He was famously elusive about the origins of his name, but it is known that he did visit Prague between 1950 and 1951 and brought flowers to Jan Neruda’s grave.
A more recent theory proposes a different inspiration for his pseudonym. It is believed that Neruda might possibly have taken his pseudonym from a character, Norman Neruda, a violinist, who appears in a Sherlock Holmes story. A study in Scarlet, the first novel by Arthur Conan Doyle, was published in 1887, and translated into Spanish with the title A strange crime, with Norman Neruda being a real person, Wilma Neruda, a violinist who lived in London. It is believed Neruda was a fan of detective stories, and may have read the story as a young man.
The mystery remains unsolved. But still, this bronze bust in Prague is a testament to the enduring legacy of Pablo Neruda, a poet whose words transcend borders and cultures. Enjoy the story as we continue our journey.