Anyway, to begin at the beginning. Dylan Marlais Thomas was born on October 27th 1914 at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive in the Uplands area of Swansea. His father was senior English teacher at the Grammar School and although both parents were fluent Welsh speakers neither Dylan nor his sister Nancy were brought up to speak Welsh. This was not unusual at the time as it was percieved that only through English could one get on in the world. Nevertheless he would have heard a great deal of Welsh and his writing has clearly been influenced by the rhythm of the language.

Across the road from his home was Cwmdonkin Park and he and his friends did all the things that young boys of that age do, they schemed and plotted, had adventures which were made doubly exciting by the power of their imaginations. Try reading 'A Child's Christmas in Wales' and you will see what I mean.