The Poems of Dylan Thomas, New Revised Edition [with CD] [Hardcover]

Dylan Thomas (Author), Daniel Jones (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2003

The most complete edition of the works of one of the twentieth century's greatest poets, including an audio CD containing vintage recordings of Thomas reading eight of his poems.

This new, revised edition of The Poems of Dylan Thomas is based on the collection edited by Thomas's life-long friend and fellow poet, Daniel Jones, first published by New Directions in 1971. Jones started with the ninety poems Thomas selected for his Collected Poems in 1952 (at a time when the poet expected that many years of work still lay ahead of him) and, after exhaustive research and consideration, added one hundred previously finished, though uncollected, poems (including twenty-six juvenile works), and two unfinished poems, and arranged them all in chronological order of composition, creating the most complete edition of Thomas's poems ever published. This revised edition contains all the original material and incorporates textual corrections. Also included are an introduction and concise notes by Daniel Jones, a brief chronology of the poet's life, and a compact disc containing vintage recordings of Thomas reading eight of his poems in his famous "Welsh-singing" style, making this edition of The Poems of Dylan Thomas a truly remarkable collection.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Contains a compact disc of Thomas reading....This clever move gives new readers the chance to hear Thomas's own voice. -- In the Groove, 3 July 2003

Invaluable...Thomas wrote with utter discipline and awesome control. This new edition...serves as a reminder of his power. -- Seattle Times, Sheila Farr, 24 August 2003

New Directions has done itself and the poet proud...a perfectly splendid volume. -- Beloit Poetry Journal, Fall 2003

New Directions have done a fine job in bringing us...the poems from one of the twentieth century's greatest poets. -- Monos, Fall 2003

The most complete edition of the heartfelt works of this noted and influential twentieth-century poet....literate, majestic, and absorbing. -- Wisconsin Bookwatch, October 2003

This is the authoritative edition of the best works of one of the 20th-century masters of English verse. -- Wichita Eagle, Arlice Davenport, 14 December 2003

What an astonishing gift [Thomas] had. -- John Wilson, Christianity Today, 8 December 2003

Works of genius mix with the obscure, but it is all pleasurable...the CD makes an excellent addition. -- Santa Fe New Mexican, Miriam Sagan, 24 August 2003

About the Author

The reputation of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (1914-1953) as one of the greatest poets of the twentieth century has not waned in the fifty years since his death. His work, noted for its lush metaphors, musicality, and playfulness within traditional forms, was largely responsible for modernizing poetic verse. Thomas also wrote captivating short stories, a novella, several screenplays and radio plays, as well as his delightful stage play, Under Milk Wood—all infused with his passion for the English language and his enduring love of Wales.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: New Directions; Revised edition (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811215415
• ISBN-13: 978-0811215411
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #198,403 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Will you like Dylan Thomas?, December 9, 2003

By 

"brianmclean" (Budapest, Hungary) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Poems of Dylan Thomas, New Revised Edition [with CD] (Hardcover)

Certainly, if you like poetry at all. Open the book at random and start listening to the sound as you read. OK---in my case, it's fallen open at this:
Shall gods be said to thump the clouds
When clouds are cursed by thunder,
Be said to weep when weather howls?
Shall rainbows be their tunics' colour?
So on one level, this is poetry for mouthing and savouring and enjoying like music. Technically, it's tight as a drum. See how the vowels are juxtaposed and notice the assonance and shape-rhymes at the end of the lines. Then comes the meaning. Dylan Thomas is not the simplest poet to understand, but he always has a strong, strident, moving argument to make that you can't forget, even if you don't agree. This edition includes recordings of the poet reading some of the verses in his strangely old-fashioned, but unforgettable voice. I first met Dylan Thomas's poems when I was 14, at a stormy, angry, poetry-writing age. That's a good moment to encounter a great poet and find out what else can be said and considered and felt. If it's Dylan Thomas, there's a strong chance he'll stay with you for the rest of your life. This is a book to leave around casually for others to find, especially if they're at a stormy, angry, poetry-writing age. If only more of us were, more of the time.

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars dylan thomas is one of my favorite poet, April 20, 2001

By 

[e-mail] "[e-mail]" (Beaumont, tx USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Poems of Dylan Thomas (New Directions Book) (Hardcover)

Years ago i read "do not go gentle into that good night" and i was introduced to dylan thomas. i quickly went out and bought his collected poems, and was totally enraptured by the poet. he has stayed on the top of my favorites, even as i read more and more poetry. this collection is not a complete works. it contains what Daniel Jones (a friend of DT's) selected out of thomas' works. the collected poems and about 100 other poems, one additional incomplete poem, and 26 poems from DT's juvenalia. it's a good collection, but you can see why dylan thomas did not include these extra poems in his collected poems. they aren't as great as what he can produce. if you love dylan thomas, like i do, then this is a great book to buy, otherwise, you can just stick with the collected poems (those poems were selected by DT himself, as the work he wanted to "save").

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Anthology Of His Poetry, March 5, 2007

By 

Carlos Rodriguez - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Poems of Dylan Thomas, New Revised Edition [with CD] (Hardcover)

If you truly are a lover of great poetry than this book should be very satisfying. Over the years there have been several volumes that have tried to attempt to collect some of the best poems by Dylan Thomas but none has come close to how complete and accurate this book is. THE POEMS OF DYLAN THOMAS, collects practically every poem that he ever wrote during his lifetime. All of his greatest and best loved poems are here and an added bonus is the CD in the back flap of the book(a special treat by all means) which has the acclaimed poet reciting eight short poems which are also included in the book. Dylan Thomas only lived to the age of 39, but in his brief run here on planet earth he wrote some of the finest, romantic and beautiful poems of his generation. Poetry scholars and literary historians have called him the greatest poet of the 20th century and although there have been many great poets (too many to mention) he stands as one of the most well known and best loved poetic geniuses of all times. Great book of poems that I highly recommend for anyone that has ever been moved and stimulated by the beauty and euphoria that poetry like the ones contained in this beautiful book can bring to a person's soul.