Welsh Airs

by R.S. Thomas

Dufour Editions, an independent publisher and distributor for more than forty years, has an established reputation as a fine literary house. International poetry has always been outstanding in the list, which initially began with some of Thomas Kinsella's and John Montague's first books from the prestigious Dolmen Press. Since those early days, the complete poetry list has grown to include prize-winning poets from twenty-nine countries. Many of the poets have toured and been interviewed in the U.S. Some are Nobel Prize winners. This catalog introduces some highly regarded poets from publishers whose lists are being distributed in the U.S. and Canada for the first time. The rewards in publishing poetry are sometimes sublime, as opposed to commercial, but reader response over the years has justified our commitment. The strength of the list is evidenced on this page, on which we salute recent prize-winners whose books are currently being read throughout the world.

Genres: Poetry

55 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1987

About the author

Ronald Stuart Thomas (1913-2000) (otherwise stylised as R.S. Thomas) was a Welsh poet and Anglican priest who was noted for his nationalism, spirituality and deep dislike of the anglicisation of Wales.

Reviews

[Raoul G · Rating 4 out of 5]

R.S. Thomas once again amazes with his metaphors and beautiful imagery in this collection of poems.
He is writing about Wales, "the nation widened to reveal the emptiness that was inside", and about her inhabitants again, "spendthrifts of time" and "the endless procession that goes nowhere". Much of it comes from a burdened heart and seems quite sobering, but he is also witness to a kind of redemption: "Light pours on them and they lift their faces to be washed by it like children."