Dylan Thomas continues to fascinate the literary biographer. Paul Ferris was among the first to chronicle the life of this complex genius and his book first appeared in 1977. Despite the fact that others have appeared since, some containing new material, Ferris's work remains, for many, definitive. It has now appeared under the imprint of a Welsh publishing company for the first time as a handsome, chunky, illustrated paperback.I feel rather in awe when I reflect on the amount of research which Ferris undertook while working on the book and he has assembled his findings with skill and care. This is a brilliant work which can be read both by readers with a particular interest in Thomas or those, like myself, who tend to read literary biography in order to try to discover what makes the creative mind tick.Ferris has contributed a new introduction and in this he writes of one of his main objects in writing it. He succeeds in disentangling some of the myths which have surrounded Thomas since his death.

He is clearly sceptical, for example, about the eighteen straight whiskies which Thomas is reported to have drunk in a New York tavern shortly before he died.Ferris's book seems unlikely to be surpassed by further biographical studies of the Swansea genius.Dewi RobertsIt is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgement should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council.Gellir defnyddio'r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatad Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.