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His writing - short stories as well as verse - was hugely popular. He broadcast widely on the old BBC Third Programmes. Given to drink and womanising, his life was very public and in the more staid 1940s caused a continuing stir. In 1953, after completing the work for which he is best remembered, UNDER MILK WOOD, he left London for a US reading tour, where he had been 'discovered' two  years before. But he was still drinking heavily and in November 9, 1953 he died suddenly in New York. He was only 39. Lycett's new life supercedes the previous biographies by Constantine Fitzgibbon, Paul Ferris and Andrew Sinclair. Since these were published Thomas's wife, Caitlin, and his son Llewelyn, have died. Lycett has secured the backing of the Dylan Thomas trustees and of Thomas's daughter Aeronwy. The 50th anniversary is an ideal moment to reassess Dylan Thomas's genius as a writer and his short but tragic life. 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The story is powerful, being an inevitable tragedy as drink takes increasing hold.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49563968569617,"sku":"GOR004268821","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49582251180305,"sku":"GOR003012422","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50346551312657,"sku":"CIN0297607936G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0297607936.jpg?v=1751324190"},{"product_id":"rudyard-kipling-book-andrew-lycett-9780753810859","title":"Rudyard Kipling","description":"This biography of Rudyard Kipling goes back to basic sources to unravel the intricate story of a misunderstood genius who became Britain's most famous and highest earning author in his day.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49570046181649,"sku":"GOR001395093","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49659255980305,"sku":"GOR001936315","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ WELL_READ \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50958606434577,"sku":"GOR005236690","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52962156118289,"sku":"GOR011943083","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0753810859.jpg?v=1750945608"},{"product_id":"rudyard-kipling-book-andrew-lycett-9780297819073","title":"Rudyard Kipling","description":"Paragon of English virtues or racist imperialist? Andrew Lycett (acclaimed biographer of Ian Fleming) has returned to primary sources to tell the intricate story of a misunderstood genius who became Britain's most famous and highest earning author. Among the many new sources, Lycett has discovered previously unpublished letters that illuminate Kipling's crucial years in India, his first girlfriend (the model for Mrs Hauksbee of Plain Tales from the Hills), his parents' decision to send him back to England to boarding school; and in his adult life his use of opium, his frustrating times in London and the brief peace he found in America before the devastating loss of both his young daughter and, in the First World War, his son. Lycett also uncovers the extraordinary story of Kipling's great love for Flo Garrard, daughter of the crown jeweller and  unravels the complicated yet enthralling saga of the American family, the Balestiers and of Carrie Balestier who became Kipling's wife. 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