Dylan Marlais Thomas (27 October 1914 – 9 November 1953) was a Welsh poet and writer, known for his works including the poems "Do not go gentle into that good night" and "And death shall have no dominion", as well as the "play for voices" Under Milk Wood. He also wrote stories and radio broadcasts such as A Child's Christmas in Wales and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog. He became widely popular in his lifetime, especially noted for his "roistering, drunken and doomed poet" persona.

Dylan Thomas was born in Swansea and began working as a reporter for the South Wales Daily Post in 1932. His early works appeared in print during his teenage years, with the 1934 publication of "Light breaks where no sun shines" garnering significant attention. He married Caitlin Macnamara in 1937 and had three children. Despite his popularity, Thomas found it challenging to earn a living solely from writing and supplemented his income with reading tours and radio broadcasts, particularly for the BBC.

Thomas's travels to the United States in the 1950s brought him both fame and notoriety due to his erratic behavior and heavy drinking. During his fourth trip to New York in 1953, he fell gravely ill, eventually dying in a coma. His body was returned to Wales and buried at St. Martin's churchyard in Laugharne, Carmarthenshire. Critics have praised Thomas's original, rhythmic, and inventive use of language, securing his status as a major 20th-century poet.