Dylan Thomas
Dylan Marlais Thomas entered the world on the 27th of October 1914 inside a red-brick semi-detached house at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive in Swansea. His father, David John Thomas, taught English literature at the local grammar school while his mother Florence Hannah worked as a seamstress. The family home sat on a hill street with bay windows and a sloped tiled roof that overlooked the Uplands area of the city. Thomas grew up speaking both Welsh and English within these walls during the early years of the twentieth century. His parents were bilingual and often spoke Welsh to each other when raising their children. One cousin recalled that Auntie Florrie and Uncle Jack always spoke Welsh inside the house. The name Dylan meant son of the sea in Welsh but caused his mother worry about teasing from peers. He later chose to have his name pronounced like Dillon rather than using the traditional Welsh sound.
His childhood included regular summer trips to the Llansteffan peninsula where his mother's family worked over a dozen farms totaling more than one thousand acres. These farms included Waunfwlchan Llwyngwyn Maesgwyn Pentowyn Pencelli-uchaf and Penycoed. A dilapidated fifteen-acre farm named Fernhill rented by his aunt Ann Jones became central to his memories. Thomas spent time riding Prince the cart horse chasing pheasants and fishing for trout at neighboring Pentrewyman farm. Ninety-five percent of residents in the two parishes around Fernhill spoke Welsh according to the 1921 census. Over two hundred people across the whole peninsula spoke only Welsh without knowing any English. The young boy played in chapel alleys and waded through muddy unpaved streets while surrounded by relatives who worshipped at Smyrna chapel where services remained entirely in Welsh.
Thomas began formal education at Mrs Hole's dame school on Mirador Crescent before enrolling at Swansea Grammar School in October 1925. His father taught English there while Dylan won the mile race held at St Helen's Ground in June 1928. He carried a newspaper photograph of that victory with him until his death decades later. As a pupil he shied away from standard curriculum choices preferring drama activities and editing the school magazine instead. Co-editor Percy Smart provided accounts of Thomas's work as editor including examples of plagiarized poems published under his own name.
In 1931 when he was sixteen years old Thomas left school to become a reporter for the South Wales Daily Post. He remained employed there for approximately eighteen months before continuing freelance journalism while living at Cwmdonkin Drive. During these early teenage years he added over two hundred poems to notebooks compiled between 1930 and 1935. Of the ninety poems he eventually published half were written during this specific period of youth. The discovery in 2014 of a fifth notebook containing sixteen poems changed understanding of his poetic development significantly.
His first poem dated the 27th of April 1930 appeared titled Osiris come to Isis within those private notebooks. By May 1933 another poem called And death shall have no dominion appeared in the New English Weekly catching attention beyond local circles. In December 1934 Fortune Press published his first book titled 18 Poems despite being a vanity publisher expecting writers to buy copies themselves. Critics like Desmond Hawkins described the volume as bomb-like bursting only once every three years. T.S. Eliot Geoffrey Grigson and Stephen Spender noticed his work after Light breaks where no sun shines appeared in The Listener magazine later that same year.
Thomas spent significant time on stage from 1929 through 1934 acting writing producing and painting sets for various groups. He participated in productions at Swansea Grammar School alongside YMCA Junior Players and the Little Theatre based in Mumbles. Between October 1933 and March 1934 alone he took part in five productions plus nine touring performances around South Wales. John Laurie who worked with him noted Thomas would have loved becoming an actor if he had chosen that path entirely.
Painting sets formed just one aspect of his artistic interests while drawings hung throughout his bedroom at Cwmdonkin Drive. Early letters revealed broader engagement with art theory alongside practical creation. Friends included Alfred Janes painter Ronald Cour sculptor Mervyn Levy art critic and Kenneth Hancock principal of Swansea Art School. In London collaborations occurred with Michael Ayrton Oswell Blakeston Mervyn Peake John Banting Jankel Adler Robert Colquhoun Robert MacBryde and Roland Penrose.
In free hours Thomas visited cinemas in Uplands walked along Swansea Bay or frequented pubs like the Antelope Hotel and Mermaid Hotels in Mumbles. The Kardomah Café near Castle Street became a meeting point for creative contemporaries including poet Vernon Watkins and musician Daniel Jones. As teenagers they set up Warmley Broadcasting Corporation broadcasting music poetry and other material through hidden wires from upper floors to lower ones below. This group of writers musicians and artists eventually earned the collective name Kardomah Gang. Bert Trick local shopkeeper left-wing activist and would-be poet also joined their circle alongside Rev Leon Atkin human rights activist and politician.
Thomas met Caitlin Macnamara in early 1936 when she was twenty-two years old dancing Irish French Quaker descent. She had run away from home intending career dance work joining chorus line at London Palladium aged eighteen. Augustus John introduced them inside The Wheatsheaf pub on Rathbone Place within London's West End. Laying his head in her lap a drunken Thomas proposed immediately after meeting though Caitlin initially continued relationship with John.
They married at register office in Penzance Cornwall on the 11th of July 1937 spending first months together at Macnamara family home in Blashford Hampshire. By May 1938 couple moved Wales renting cottage Gosport Street Laugharne Carmarthenshire before entering Sea View larger property months later. They left Laugharne July 1940 leading peripatetic lifestyle returning Blashford subsequently living Marshfield Bishopston Chelsea London Talsarn East Knoyle Beaconsfield Bosham Sussex Blaencwm New Quay Oxford grounds South Leigh.
Dylan and Caitlin Thomas had three children: Llewelyn Edouard born 1939 Aeronwy Thomas-Ellis born 1943 Colm Garan Hart born 1949. Llewelyn and Aeronwy received private education at Magdalen College School Oxford Arts Education School Tring Hertfordshire respectively. Between 1941 and 1943 family lived intermittently Plas Gelli Talsarn Cardiganshire sharing mansion childhood friends Vera Evelyn Phillips. In September 1944 Thomas moved family to Majoda wood asbestos bungalow cliffs overlooking Cardigan Bay New Quay where he wrote Quite Early One Morning sketch for future Under Milk Wood.
During World War II Thomas produced film scripts for Strand Film Company providing financial mainstay throughout war years. He created six films in 1942 including This is Colour on aniline dye processing New Towns for Old Balloon Site 568 recruitment film CEMA arts organization Young Farmers Battle for Freedom. Bi-lingual production Wales Green Mountain Black Mountain came as British Council commission while These Are The Men featured Leni Riefenstahl footage early Nuremberg Rally.
Conquest of a Germ explored use early antibiotics fight against pneumonia tuberculosis while Our Country romantic tour Britain set Thomas's poetry. After war feature film scripts included No Room at Inn Three Weird Sisters Doctor Devils Rebecca's Daughters Beach Falesá BBC Radio 3 production May 2014. Altogether industry work produced twenty-eight film scripts not all reaching production acting producer director cases sometimes lost reliable income source late 1940s recession.
Broadcasting years began 1945 when Thomas made over hundred broadcasts corporation three years starting October 1945. Employed poetry readings discussions critiques second half 1945 read Book Verse weekly Far East provided regular income contact Louis MacNeice congenial drinking companion cherished advice. Third Programme high-culture network launched September 1946 offered opportunities appearing play Comus day after network launch rich sonorous voice led character parts Agamemnon Satan Paradise Lost adaptation.
American poet John Brinnin invited Thomas New York February 1950 embarking lucrative three-month tour arts centers campuses beginning thousand audience Kaufmann Auditorium Poetry Centre. Tour took about forty venues lists thirty-nine locations visited first US trip compiled help John Brinnin accepting some locations may missed. Invited many parties functions several occasions became drunk going out way shock people difficult guest drank before readings though argued pretended affected actually writer Elizabeth Hardwick recalled intoxicating performer tension built performance arrive break stage faculty party offensive violent obscene Caitlin said nobody needed encouragement less drowned encouragement.
Second tour January 20 the 16th of May 1952 included Caitlin discovered unfaithful earlier trip drank heavily suffered gout lung problems most intensive four taking forty-six engagements resulted recording first poetry vinyl Caedmon Records released America later year A Child's Christmas Wales became popular prose work United States original 1952 recording 2008 selection United States National Recording Registry credited launching audiobook industry United States shortened version half The Town Mad published Botteghe Oscure May 1952 title Llareggub changed Under Milk Wood because John Brinnin thought Llareggub attract American audiences.
Thomas left Laugharne the 9th of October 1953 first leg fourth trip America called mother Florence goodbye feeling had get country chest bad. Suffered chest problems life began earnest soon after moved May 1949 Boat House Laughanne bronchial heronry called visited local doctor weeks moving prescribed medicine chest throat. While waiting London flight stayed comedian Harry Locke worked Under Milk Wood Locke noted trouble chest terrible coughing fits purple face used inhaler help breathing reports blackouts visiting BBC producer Philip Burton few days before left New York interrupted blackout.
Arrived New York the 20th of October 1953 undertake performances Under Milk Wood organized John Brinnin American agent Director Poetry Centre remained Boston write handed responsibility assistant Liz Reitell met Thomas Idlewild Airport shocked appearance looked pale delicate shaky usual robust self very ill got here. Taken Reitell check Chelsea Hotel took first rehearsal Under Milk Wood went White Horse Tavern Greenwich Village returning Chelsea Hotel next day Reitell invited apartment declined sightseeing felt unwell retired bed rest afternoon gave half grain phenobarbitone sleep spent night hotel him two days later third rehearsal said too ill take part struggled shivering burning fever collapsed stage following day the 24th of October Reitell took see doctor Milton Feltenstein administered cortisone injections made through first performance evening collapsed immediately afterwards.
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Common questions
When and where was Dylan Thomas born?
Dylan Marlais Thomas entered the world on the 27th of October 1914 inside a red-brick semi-detached house at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive in Swansea. His parents were David John Thomas and Florence Hannah, who lived there during his early years.
What is the significance of Fernhill farm to Dylan Thomas childhood memories?
A dilapidated fifteen-acre farm named Fernhill rented by his aunt Ann Jones became central to his memories. Thomas spent time riding Prince the cart horse chasing pheasants and fishing for trout at neighboring Pentrewyman farm while ninety-five percent of residents in the two parishes around Fernhill spoke Welsh according to the 1921 census.
How did Dylan Thomas begin his writing career before age twenty?
Thomas left school in 1931 when he was sixteen years old to become a reporter for the South Wales Daily Post. During these early teenage years he added over two hundred poems to notebooks compiled between 1930 and 1935, with half of the ninety poems he eventually published written during this specific period of youth.
When and where did Dylan Thomas marry Caitlin Macnamara?
They married at register office in Penzance Cornwall on the 11th of July 1937 spending first months together at Macnamara family home in Blashford Hampshire. By May 1938 couple moved Wales renting cottage Gosport Street Laugharne Carmarthenshire before entering Sea View larger property months later.
What film scripts did Dylan Thomas produce during World War II?
During World War II Thomas produced film scripts for Strand Film Company providing financial mainstay throughout war years. He created six films in 1942 including This is Colour on aniline dye processing New Towns for Old Balloon Site 568 recruitment film CEMA arts organization Young Farmers Battle for Freedom.
How did Dylan Thomas die in October 1953?
Arrived New York the 20th of October 1953 undertake performances Under Milk Wood organized John Brinnin American agent Director Poetry Centre remained Boston write handed responsibility assistant Liz Reitell met Thomas Idlewild Airport shocked appearance looked pale delicate shaky usual robust self very ill got here. Taken Reitell check Chelsea Hotel took first rehearsal Under Milk Wood went White Horse Tavern Greenwich Village returning Chelsea Hotel next day Reitell invited apartment declined sightseeing felt unwell retired bed rest afternoon gave half grain phenobarbitone sleep spent night hotel him two days later third rehearsal said too ill take part struggled shivering burning fever collapsed stage following day the 24th of October Reitell took see doctor Milton Feltenstein administered cortisone injections made through first performance evening collapsed immediately afterwards.