Poet & Writer
Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)
Dylan Thomas was a celebrated Welsh poet and writer whose passionate, lyrical verse and radio dramas made him one of the most important literary figures of the twentieth century.
Life and Writing
Thomas was born in Swansea, Wales, in 1914. He began writing poetry as a teenager and published his first collection at the age of 20. His poetry is known for its rich, musical language and vivid imagery, drawing on Welsh landscapes, his childhood, and themes of life and death.
He also worked as a broadcaster and scriptwriter for the BBC, and his warm, expressive voice made his radio readings hugely popular with audiences.
Notable Works
His most famous poem, "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night," is a passionate plea written for his dying father, urging him to fight against death. The villanelle form of the poem — with its repeated lines — gives it an insistent, almost incantatory quality.
Under Milk Wood is a radio play that captures life in a fictional Welsh seaside village called Llareggub over the course of a single day. It was broadcast by the BBC in 1954, the year after Thomas died, and has since become a classic of twentieth-century literature.
Key facts for the test
- Born in Swansea, Wales in 1914
- Welsh poet and writer
- Wrote "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" — written for his dying father
- Wrote the radio play Under Milk Wood
- Died in 1953