On Sept 23, 1973, Chilean poet Pablo Neruda passed away from prostate cancer and malnutrition.

At least, that was the reason given by Augusto Pinochet’s military regime which had, just 12 days earlier, overthrown the government of Chile’s president — and Neruda’s friend — Salvador Allende.

In 2013, Neruda’s former chauffeur revealed he had received a frantic phone call from a hospitalised Neruda hours before he had died, claiming to have forcibly been given an injection in the stomach.

In light of this — as well as the fact that Neruda weighed 100kgs at the time of demise and was, therefore, in no way malnourished — the poet’s remains were exhumed and an investigation put into action.

Forensic analysts have now confirmed the presence of a powerful toxin in Neruda’s body, which points to assassination by poison.

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, February 19th, 2023