Thomas, Dylan
other-name: Dylan Marlais Thomas
birth: 27 October 1914; Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales
death: 9 November 1953; New York, New York, United States
category: Literature
discipline: Poetry
Assessment: The precise status of Dylan Thomas is a matter of continuing debate among literary scholars. Certainly, his poetry spoke to many through its musical language and evocation of familiar emotions and scenes; his works continue to charm and interest readers today.
language: English
education: Swansea Grammar School, Swansea, Wales
achievements: His poetry spread the fame of Wales
major-work: A Child's Christmas in Wales (a short story/reminiscence, published posthumously in 1955); Under Milkwood (an incomplete play, published posthumously in 1954); Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night (one of his better known poems, first published in 1951);
Details:
Thomas went to Swansea Grammar School where his father was senior English master. He lived in Swansea till he was twenty and the city inspired some of his earliest writing. By the early 1930s, Thomas was writing poetry, keeping it in his Notebooks.
In 1933, "And Death Shall Have No Dominion" became the first of his poems to be published outside Wales when it was printed in the New English Weekly.
In 1934, Thomas won the book prize of the Poet's Corner of the ‘Sunday Referee’; this took the form of sponsorship for his first published volume of poetry. The resulting book was 18 Poems, published jointly by the ‘Sunday Referee’ and Parton Bookshop. Thomas also moved to London that same year.
1936 saw a second printing of 18 Poems, as well as the publication of Twenty-five Poems by J.M. Dent & Sons, and Thomas's first meeting with his future wife, Caitlin Macnamara. He married Caitlin in July, 1936, in Penzance, Cornwall.
In 1937, Thomas presented his first radio broadcast: ‘Life and the Modern Poet,’ for the BBC Welsh Service. This was the beginning of an association with radio broadcasting and the writing of radio scripts that continued for the rest of Thomas' life. Some recordings of Thomas' radio broadcasts are still available for those who wish to hear the poet's actual voice; phonograph records were also made of Thomas reading some of his works.
In 1939, in Wales, Thomas and Caitlin had their first child, Llewelyn. Their home would alternate between Wales and England for the rest of their lives. During the 1940s and 1950s, Thomas wrote a range of poems, short stories, scripts and radio broadcasts. His work always remained rooted in his Welsh childhood and background; however, he was able to create work that made the specific events and scenes of that Welsh heritage speak to people in many nations.
His publications include The Map of Love (1939, Britain), The World I Breathe (1939, US), Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1940, Britain and US), New Poems (1943, US), Deaths and Entrances (1946, Britain), Second Writings of Dylan Thomas (1946, US), In Country Sleep (1952, US), Collected Poems, 1934-1952 (1952, Britain; 1953, US), The Doctor and the Devils (a film script, 1953, Britain). In 1953, he made his first and only appearance on television, reading The Outing on the BBC.
Dylan and Caitlin had a turbulent married life. Both drank and some of their problems have been attributed to alcoholic excess. At one point on a visit to the US, Thomas sent home a postcard which read: ‘We were killed in action, Manhattan Island, Spring 1952, in a gallant battle against American generosity. An American called Double Rye shot Caitlin to death. I was scalped by a Bourbon’
In addition, there were occasions when Dylan either was, or appeared to be, unfaithful to one degree or another. Problems with money (or the lack of it) also contributed to the tensions in their marriage. Nonetheless, they remained together and had two more children, Aeronwy in 1943 and Colm in 1949.
In November of 1953, while on his fourth speaking and reading tour in the United States, after his last engagement (at New York City College) Thomas collapsed and died in Chelsea Hospital.
His body was returned to Wales and interred in Laugharne. After her death in 1994, Caitlin was buried in the same grave with Dylan Thomas.
His legacy was a collection of poems, short stories, scripts and recorded radio broadcasts as well as his near-legendary persona as a bohemian and free-spirited poet. Despite his continuing popularity with the general public, scholars continue to debate his precise nature and quality as a poet. Whether he was a unique poetic voice or simply a gifted versifier with an ability to speak of and to human emotions, he is still remembered, read and recited.
extra-connections: He was invited to collaborate with Stravinsky* on an opera (Thomas was to write libretto) in 1953
He did radio broadcasts with, acted in radio play by Louis MacNeice* in 1946
Oneliner: Dylan Thomas, larger-than-life Welsh poet
Bibliography:
"Love the Words." Official website dedicated to Dylan Thomas, published by City and County of Swansea. http://www.dylanthomas.com/
"Poetry Exhibits." Offers text of selected poems by Dylan Thomas as well as a very brief biography and commentary. http://www.poets.org/poets/poets.cfm?prmID=151
"Dylan Thomas." BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/dylanthomas/
Media:
Readings of some of Thomas' poems by Dylan Thomas. Presented courtesy of HarperAudio and Internet Multicasting Service.
http://town.hall.org/Archives/radio/IMS/HarperAudio/020894_harp_ITH.html Accessed March 21, 2004.
"Reminiscences of Childhood." May 6, 1953; Thomas talks about his childhood, on BBC Radio.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/audiointerviews/profilepages/thomasd1.shtml Accessed March 21, 2004.
parents: David John Thomas (1876–1952); Florence Hannah Williams (1882-?, m. 30 December 1903)
spouse: Caitlin Macnamara (1913-1994, m. 11 July 1937 in Penzance, Cornwall)
siblings: Nancy Thomas (1906-1953)
children: Llewelyn Edouard Thomas (30 January 1939); Aeronwy Bryn Thomas (3 March 1943); Colm Garan Hart Thomas (24 July 1949)