Folio Archives 144: Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas 1972/2009
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1wcarter
Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas 1972/2009
Under Milk Wood was written as a radio play, and is considered to be the most famous piece of written work for this medium. It was written over 15 years, and was finally broadcast for the first time in 1954. It only exists because a BBC secretary made a fair copy, as Thomas lost the only copy he owned in a pub.
When read it comes across as a disjointed and almost unconnected collection of random words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs and poems that make very little sense. As you continue to read, the gist of an idea starts to permeate the brain, and you finally see that what you are reading is a description of the tiny Welsh coastal village of Llareggub (read it backwards) and its lugubrious inhabitants. Their peccadilloes, desires, ordinariness, lusts and concerns are all indirectly revealed, from the retired fisherman and local priest, to the nymphomaniacal single mother and the baker. It’s like nothing else you will have ever read.
The Folio Society has published eight subtly different editions of this book, but all have the original publication date of 1972 on their title page. The text block and illustrations remain the same in all editions; but the slipcase, endpapers, binding and cover colours vary with the editions, although the cover design remains unchanged. My copy is the latest 2009 edition, but it has a printing error on page 60 in which purple ink seems to have been drizzled down the page (see pictures below).
The 93 page book is edited and introduced by Douglas Cleverdon. There are nine lithographs in purple and black by Ceri Richards. The text is printed in two colours throughout, purple and black in my edition, but red and black in some earlier editions. It is three-quarter bound in purple buckram with a purple image blocked grey linen front board and grey endpapers. The slipcase is purple and 26x16.5cm.
Printing error on page with drizzled purple ink
Cover from original 1972 edition
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
Under Milk Wood was written as a radio play, and is considered to be the most famous piece of written work for this medium. It was written over 15 years, and was finally broadcast for the first time in 1954. It only exists because a BBC secretary made a fair copy, as Thomas lost the only copy he owned in a pub.
When read it comes across as a disjointed and almost unconnected collection of random words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs and poems that make very little sense. As you continue to read, the gist of an idea starts to permeate the brain, and you finally see that what you are reading is a description of the tiny Welsh coastal village of Llareggub (read it backwards) and its lugubrious inhabitants. Their peccadilloes, desires, ordinariness, lusts and concerns are all indirectly revealed, from the retired fisherman and local priest, to the nymphomaniacal single mother and the baker. It’s like nothing else you will have ever read.
The Folio Society has published eight subtly different editions of this book, but all have the original publication date of 1972 on their title page. The text block and illustrations remain the same in all editions; but the slipcase, endpapers, binding and cover colours vary with the editions, although the cover design remains unchanged. My copy is the latest 2009 edition, but it has a printing error on page 60 in which purple ink seems to have been drizzled down the page (see pictures below).
The 93 page book is edited and introduced by Douglas Cleverdon. There are nine lithographs in purple and black by Ceri Richards. The text is printed in two colours throughout, purple and black in my edition, but red and black in some earlier editions. It is three-quarter bound in purple buckram with a purple image blocked grey linen front board and grey endpapers. The slipcase is purple and 26x16.5cm.
Printing error on page with drizzled purple ink
Cover from original 1972 edition
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
2kdweber
My first Folio Society purchase was the first four Shakespeare Letterpress LEs. I followed that up soon afterwards with my first membership and Under Milk Wood was one of my first four regular FS purchases (the 1997 edition).
3folio_books
I'm pretty sure this was one of my first four, too. I joined in 1973 and Under Milk Wood had only recently been published. There's a marvellous BBC Radio Collection audiobook (available from Audible) starring Richard Burton which brings out the humour.
4Cat_of_Ulthar
>3 folio_books:
'There's a marvellous BBC Radio Collection audiobook (available from Audible) starring Richard Burton which brings out the humour.'
I presume that's the original 1954 radio broadcast. A few years after that, in 1958, we were introduced to Ivor the Engine.
I was too young (not even a gleam in anyone's eye) to see these on the first showing but, watching these early episodes, perhaps it's just me, but I find myself thinking that Oliver Postgate must have been a fan of Milkwood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L1_zcWjQNY
It's a portal into another world, at any rate :-)
Addendum
from Under Milk Wood:
'Before you let the sun in, mind it wipes its shoes.'
and:
‘I know what you’re thinking, you milky little creature: you’re thinking you’re no better than you should be. And that’s good enough for me.’
You can't really argue with that: as The Fast Show might have said: It's Brilliant!
'There's a marvellous BBC Radio Collection audiobook (available from Audible) starring Richard Burton which brings out the humour.'
I presume that's the original 1954 radio broadcast. A few years after that, in 1958, we were introduced to Ivor the Engine.
I was too young (not even a gleam in anyone's eye) to see these on the first showing but, watching these early episodes, perhaps it's just me, but I find myself thinking that Oliver Postgate must have been a fan of Milkwood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L1_zcWjQNY
It's a portal into another world, at any rate :-)
Addendum
from Under Milk Wood:
'Before you let the sun in, mind it wipes its shoes.'
and:
‘I know what you’re thinking, you milky little creature: you’re thinking you’re no better than you should be. And that’s good enough for me.’
You can't really argue with that: as The Fast Show might have said: It's Brilliant!
5folio_books
>4 Cat_of_Ulthar: perhaps it's just me, but I find myself thinking that Oliver Postgate must have been a fan of Milkwood.
I hadn't made the connection before you mentioned it but the more I think of it the more I believe you are likely right. And yes, it's the original broadcast. It's Richard Burton's finest hour, in my opinion.
I hadn't made the connection before you mentioned it but the more I think of it the more I believe you are likely right. And yes, it's the original broadcast. It's Richard Burton's finest hour, in my opinion.
