Dylan Thomas

by Dylan Thomas, Billy Collins (Introduction)

Beginning in February 1952, Dylan Thomas made a series of memorable and historic recordings for a new record label called Caedmon. In fact, Dylan Thomas was the first to record for this new label, started by two 22–year–old women, Marianne Roney and Barbara Cohen. Little did they know that in addition to capturing a part of history they also launched an industry of spoken–word recording. This collection not only contains the incredible Caedmon recording sessions, but also recordings from the BBC, CBC, and other archival material Caedmon originally published in the 1950s and 1960s. Highlights "A Child's Christmas in Wales" and "Five Poems"; "Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night", his Adventures in the Skin Trade and Quite Early One Morning, and his final work – Under Milk Wood, a play. With stunning original album cover art, and an introduction read by former poet laureate Billy Collins, this unique collection includes not only Dylan Thomas reading his finest works, but also rare recordings of Thomas reading his favorite writers, including W.H. Auden and William Shakespeare.

Genres: Poetry

11 pages, Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Dylan Marlais Thomas (1914-1953) was a Welsh poet who wrote in English. Many regard him as one of the 20th century's most influential poets.

In addition to poetry, Thomas wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, with the latter frequently performed by Thomas himself. His public readings, particularly in America, won him great acclaim; his booming, at times, ostentatious voice, with a subtle Welsh lilt, became almost as famous as his works. His best-known work includes the "play for voices" Under Milk Wood and the celebrated villanelle for his dying father, "Do not go gentle into that good night." Appreciative critics have also noted the superb craftsmanship and compression of poems such as "In my craft or sullen art" and the rhapsodic lyricism of Fern Hill.

Reviews

[James Biser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dylan Thomas is a great poet. Listening to the man is nice, as he has a good voice. I was not, however, impressed with his readings. He performs his poems with a tick-tock nursery-rhime rhythm. I insist that he is one of the best poets of our language, but I prefer to read him, or hear him performed by someone else.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of CDs remains the best present I have ever received in my whole life. There is no voice like Thomas' voice, and no collection of words to match his. Extraordinary and way too short.

[Willem M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

mesmerizing. gradually, it becomes background music...

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love hearing Thomas' voice as he reads his poetry. There's nothing like it.