Dylan Thomas
Jack meets the great Welsh poet Dylan Thomas at the White Horse Tavern. Thomas (1914-1953) had a short and troubled life but he produced some of the most passionate and beautiful poetry of the 20th Century. Many of his poems are about death or childhood (read one of Jack’s favorites, "A Child's Christmas in Wales"). Hear audio of Thomas himself reading “Death Shall Have No Dominion,” which he recites to Jack.
Ruthven Todd introduced Thomas to the White Horse Tavern when Thomas was touring the U.S. and reading his poems. The Horse became a favorite watering hole for the poet who was a notoriously rowdy drunk. Todd tells Jack that Thomas died after quaffing eighteen shots of whiskey at the bar.
The truth, however, is slightly less dramatic—and arguably more tragic. Thomas did spend the night of November 5, 1953 drinking at the Horse—though more likely pints of beer. After returning to his room at the legendary Chelsea Hotel, he slipped into a coma and died at St Vincent’s Hospital in Greenwich Village four days later. Although “chronic alcohol poisoning” contributed to his death, he also was suffering from pneumonia. He was just 39 years old.
Thomas is one of my favorite poets—not only because he wrote about death and childhood, two of my favorite subjects--but because he loved the English language and played with its rhythms and sounds. Learn more about him.