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This is not, as the title might suggest, a Zane Grey style tale of gunslingers in the American West. It is, in fact, the first authorised biography of R.S.Thomas and the 'west' is Gwynedd or more specifically, Lleyn.
Thomas was a man of many paradoxes. As a young man he learned Welsh and eventually became a language extremist. His work was written in English and published in London. He sent his son, Gwydion, to an English public school and, it seems, was more relaxed in the company of the middle class. He could be downright rude but, on the other hand, he could be kindness itself. There were times when he was downright eccentric; many testify to a dry sense of humour. 'I’ve only met three funny funny men,' said Jon Gower, 'Ken Dodd, Lenny Bruce and R.S.Thomas.' Byron Rogers has undertaken a tremendous amount of research for his marvellous book and for this he is indebted, to a great extent, to the friendship and assistance of Gwydion Thomas.
For readers in Wales there is a secondary reason for the appeal of the book for one has merely to glance at the index to see a listing of so many of the names of literary high-fliers.
As in any book of this kind Rogers offers us interpretations of certain of the poems in the light of the circumstances of Thomas’s life. The story of “the ogre of Wales” as he became known in the last twenty-five years of his life, is a remarkable one. Byron Rogers has produced the most riveting literary biography which I have ever read.
Beg, borrow or, if necessary, steal it. You won’t regret it.
Dewi Roberts
It 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.
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