Synopses & Reviews
Almost a half century after his death in 1953, the Welsh author Dylan Thomas continues to capture the attention of scholars and critics. Though he attained some measure of fame before he died, he never enjoyed financial prosperity. His life was plagued with difficulties of all kinds, and he was only 39 years old at the time of his death. Some of his works, such as Fern Hill and Do not go gentle into that good night are frequently included in anthologies, and Thomas is now often considered one of the most important and original poets of the 20th century. During his trips to the United States, he read his works to large audiences on college campuses. He also made a number of radio broadcasts and recordings, and his moving voice made scores of listeners respond emotionally to his poems.
Though Dylan Thomas has earned his place in literary history, readers often find his poems difficult to understand. This reference book is a valuable guide to his life and work. Because his writings are so very much a product of his troubled life, the volume begins with an insightful biography that provides a context for understanding Thomas's works. The second section then systematically overviews his works. While his poems receive much attention, the section also includes discussions of his prose works, his filmscripts, and his broadcasts. A third section then surveys the critical and scholarly response to his writings, with separate chapters detailing his reception in Wales, England, and North America. A selected bibliography lists editions of Thomas's works, along with the most important general studies of his writings.
Review
Davies' book will be read largely by undergraduates seeking a way through the poems.Notes &Queries
Synopsis
Examines the life and career of Dylan Thomas and provides an extensive consideration of the critical reception of his works.
Synopsis
Almost a half century after his death in 1953, the Welsh author Dylan Thomas continues to capture the attention of scholars and critics. Though he attained some measure of fame before he died, he never enjoyed financial prosperity. Some of his works, such as "Fern Hill" and "Do not go gentle into that good night" are frequently included in anthologies, and Thomas is now often considered one of the most important and original poets of the 20th century. He is also one of the most difficult. This reference book is a valuable aid to understanding his troubled life and enduring body of work. The volume begins with an insightful biography that provides a useful context for studying his writings. The second section then provides a systematic overview of his works, while the third section summarizes the critical and scholarly response to his writings. The volume concludes with a bibliography of the most helpful general studies.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [337]-342) and index.
About the Author
JAMES A. DAVIES is Senior Lecturer in English at the University of Wales, Swansea.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chronological Summary
Life
1914-1934
1934-1944
1944-1949
1950-1953
Works
Juvenilia and the Notebooks
From Notebooks to Final Text: Three Examples
18 Poems
Twenty-five Poems
The Map of Love
Portrait of an Artist as a Young Dog
Minor Prose
Deaths and Entrances
Late Poems
Towards Under Milk Wood
Critical History
Dylan Thomas and the Times Literary Supplement
Dylan Thomas in Wales
Dylan Thomas in England
Dylan Thomas in North America
Selected Bibliography
Index