Directly in front of my desk in the cottage are pictures of people who have inspired me, including this one of Welsh poet and writer, Dylan Thomas. Thomas tragically died in 1953 in New York at the early age of just thirty nine, leaving many to think ‘what might have been’. He was a heavy drinker, as was his wife, Caitlyn.
One of his most popular poems is ‘Do Not Go Gently Into that Good Night’, but his most famous work is probably Under Milk Wood, a play for voices. I have several versions of this unique masterpiece, which Welsh actor Richard Burton is usually most associated with it.
Dylan was the writer of many wonderful books of poetry and I also adore Thomas’ A Child’s Christmas in Wales. He also did many radio broadcasts and toured a lot, including here in the States.
Welsh singer Cerys Matthews adapted Under Milk Wood a few years ago with original songs. It is excellent and well worth checking out.
Richard Burton is of course acknowledged as one of the greatest actors of all time, who though possibly never really reached his full potential. His deep, rich voice is unmatched.
Apart from his movies, Burton was mainly a stage actor, performing Shakespeare, most notably Hamlet, and many classic plays. His love affair and two marriages to Elizabeth Taylor remains the celebrity relationship. They met at a party prior to the movie Cleopatra and disliked each other inmensley but fate played a part and they became lovers. It was Burton who pushed Taylor to be a better actor, especially on stage in classics like Taming of The Shrew and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolfe? Burton’s performance in the film, Look Back In Anger, is a masterclass in acting and one of the first, and finest, British kitchen sink dramas.
He did make a few bad choices; Exorcist II comes to mind. I do though love Wild Geese, a star studded action movie.
Dylsn Thomas famously had his writing shed above a boat house where he often went to write. The village of Laugharne was the inspiration for Under Milk Wood.
Situated on an estuary in South Wales the house is now a tourist favourite.
I have my version of his boat house/shed – The Cottage! I hope it is as inspirational.
Jon Johanson 
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