Dylan Marlais Thomas (27 October 1914 – 9 November 1953) was a Welsh poet and writer whose works include the poems "Do not go gentle into that good night" and "And death shall have no dominion", the "play for voices", Under Milk Wood, and stories and radio broadcasts such as A Child's Christmas in Wales and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog. He became popular in his lifetime and remained so after his premature death in New York. In his later life he acquired a reputation, which he encouraged, as a "roistering, drunken and doomed poet".Thomas was born in Swansea, Wales, in 1914. An undistinguished pupil, he left school at 16, becoming a journalist for a short time. Although many of his works appeared in print while he was still a teenager, it was the publication of "Light breaks where no sun shines", in 1934, that caught the attention of the literary world. While living in London, Thomas met Caitlin Macnamara, whom he married in 1937. Their relationship was defined by alcoholism and was mutually destructive. In the early part of his marriage, Thomas and his family lived hand-to-mouth, settling in the Welsh fishing village of Laugharne.Although Thomas was appreciated as a popular poet in his lifetime, he found earning his living as a writer difficult, which resulted in his augmenting his income with his reading tours and his broadcasts. His radio recordings for the BBC during the latter half of the 1940s brought him to the public's attention and his was used by the Corporation as a populist voice of the literary scene. In the 1950s, Thomas travelled to America, where his readings brought him a level of fame, though his erratic behaviour and his drinking worsened. His time in America cemented Thomas' legend, where his recorded to vinyl works such as A Child's Christmas in Wales. During his fourth trip to New York in 1953, Thomas became gravely ill and fell into a coma from which his did not recover. Thomas died on 9 November 1953 and his body was returned to Wales where his was buried at the village churchyard in Laugharne.Despite writing exclusively in the English language, Thomas has been acknowledged as one of the most important Welsh poets of the 20th century and noted for his original, rhythmic and ingenious use of words and imagery. Thomas' position as one of the great modern poets has been much discussed, though this has not tarnished his popularity amongst the public, who find his work accessible.
Set Fire to the Stars, Rebecca's Daughters, Under Milk Wood
Star Sign
Scorpio
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Quote
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(He wrote while visiting America:) There seems, at first, to be no reality at all in the life here: It is all an enormous façade of speed and efficiency and power behind which millions of little individuals are wrestling, in vain, with their own anxieties.
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An alcoholic is someone you don't like who drinks as much as you do.
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Last words: "I've just had 15 double whiskies. I think that might be a record."
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Fact
1
In Dangerous Minds (1995), Michelle Pfeiffer's character assigns her students a "Dylan/Dylan" exam: they have to try and find a Dylan Thomas poem and Bob Dylan song that have a similar theme.
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Dylan and Caitlin are buried side by side in Laugharne, S. Wales, UK His grave is marked by a simple wooden cross.
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Engaged in the bout of drinking that lead to his death at the White Horse Tavern in West Village section of New York City.
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His love of language was nurtured by his mother who read to him on those frequent occasions when he was sick in bed with asthma, bronchitis, and colds. The adult Thomas suffered more from alcoholism than asthma. He died at age 39.
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Children: Llewelyn Edouard Thomas, born January 30 1939; Aeronwy Bryn Thomas, born March 1942; and Colm Garan Hart Thomas, born July 1949.
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He is on the sleeve artwork of the album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" by The Beatles (released in 1967). Because of his legendary alcoholism, which led to his death, he is also one of several famous and tragic figures from history to be featured on the sleeve artwork of the album "Clutching at Straws" by rock band Marillion (released in 1987).
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Under Milk Wood
2015
play
The Hunchback in the Park
2014
TV Movie
Under Milk Wood
2014
TV Movie
We Who Are Young Are Old
2010
Short poem
N'entre pas sans violence dans cette bonne nuit
2005
Short poem
Fern Hill
2005
poem
The Sunday Programme
2003
TV Series extracts - 1 episode
The Poet Writes His Wife
2002
Short love letters
Chelsea Walls
2001
poems "Under Milk Wood" and "Lament"
Titus
2001
TV Series poem "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" - 1 episode