A parable rich in imagery and meaning, The Surprising Adventures of Balthazar provides readers of all ages with profound insights into the nature of authority, power, and freedom. The tale begins when a polar bear named Balthazar is captured by hunters and put in a city zoo in Chile. But Balthazar is no ordinary bear, for he faces his grim situation with an uncanny wisdom, a sense of humor, and a strong self-reliance. Originally written in 1974, The Surprising Adventures of Balthazar can also be read as an allegory of the human rights violations and atrocities committed by the Chilean military dictatorship in the aftermath of the 1973 coup. This bilingual edition makes it available to English-language readers for the first time.