Dylan Thomas
Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (1914-1953) suffered with asthma all his life. His best-known works include 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.
Dylan Thomas suffered with asthma and bronchitis his whole life. Thomas was known to be a sickly child and was considered too frail to fight in World War II, instead serving the war effort by writing scripts for the government.
Thomas was well known for being a versatile and dynamic speaker, best known for his poetry readings. His powerful voice would captivate American audiences during his speaking tours of the early 1950s. He made over 200 broadcasts for the BBC.
The 2008 film "The Edge of Love" starring Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller loosely based on Thomas and wife Caitlin Mac Namara revived interest in the brilliant and charismatic poet.
