An expanded and updated introduction to the poet is urgently needed. In this new Writers of Wales study, Tony Brown, an established critic of modern Welsh writing in English, meets that need with a focused and engaged overview of Thomas's life and work. Brown shows a thorough knowledge of scholarly work on Thomas. David Lloyd, Planet, Issue 181, Feb 2007 As an introduction to R. S. Thomas, the book works very well, breaking new ground by offering definitive interpretations of Thomas' poems. Zoe Brigley, Poetry Wales, 42.3 Beautifully balanced in its treatment, and meticulously written by a leading scholar of R. S. Thomas's work, this state-of-the-art critical biography must surely stand as a definitive introduction to the life of a turbulent priest and to the ongoing life of his unquiet poetry. M. Wynn Thomas, University of Wales, Swansea, New Welsh Review No. 73

Tony Brown is Professor of English, Director of the Humanities Research Centre and co-Director of the R.S. Thomas Study Centre at Bangor University. He has edited many books including The Collected Stories of Glyn Jones (UWP, 1999) and Glyn Jones's The Dragon Has Two Tongues (UWP 2001).