Thomas, Dylan Marlais

Welsh poet. His poems, characterized by complex imagery and a strong musicality, include the celebration of his 30th birthday ‘Poem in October’ and the evocation of his youth ‘Fern Hill’ (1946). His ‘play for voices’ Under Milk Wood (1954) describes with humour and compassion a day in the life of the residents of a small Welsh fishing village, Llareggub. The short stories of Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog (1940) are autobiographical.

Born in Swansea, Thomas worked as a reporter on the South Wales Evening Post, then became a journalist in London and published his first volume Eighteen Poems in 1934. He returned periodically to Wales, to the village of Laugharne, from 1938, with his wife Caitlin (born Macnamara, 1913–1994), moving into the Boat House in 1949. Here he wrote most of Under Milk Wood, several major poems, and some short stories. He collapsed and died during a lecture tour of the USA.