Image courtesy of snagglehim at DeviantART

Destroyed like so many greats at an early age by the ravages of alcohol, Dylan Thomas is synonymous with great poetry, a remarkable play, and Welshness (see the official web site for in-depth biographical details). The play, Under Milk Wood remains a classic to this day, and the famous narration performed by Richard Burton (who later reprised his role in the film version) is iconic. Inspired by a holiday in New Quay (the Welsh resort, not the Cornish one), the tale of the inhabitants of a sleepy fishing village is told partly as a dream sequence. It was originally recorded for radio in 1945, but Thomas worked on the story for eight more years and delivered a manuscript to the BBC in 1954, before leaving for a tour of America. He recorded a version at the YMCA in Manhattan, but within two months he had died of alcohol poisoning. Whether this was cumulative, or the result of a drinking contest to which he had been challenged by the writer Peter De Vries (upon finding Thomas in bed with his wife) is not known (one account can be found on the excellent BBC site devoted to the poet).

Thomas’s life and death is profiled in a Sky Arts documentary, part of the Great Writers series (on air today at 1.05 pm, and Tuesday 30^th at 9.05 am). It contains thought-provoking and revealing interviews with contemporaries and family members, and readings from his poems, Under Milk Wood and other works. Added to this, rare archival interview footage with Thomas is also included. The result is well worth watching for Thomas fans, or if you are just curious about the inner workings of the Welsh poet.