Donald Michael Thomas (1935–2023,) widely known as D. M. Thomas, was a British author and poet celebrated for his extensive literary contributions. His translations, novels, editions, biographies, and plays have been translated into 30 languages.
Born in Carnkie, Cornwall, England, Thomas pursued his education at the University of Oxford, earning degrees in English and history. Early in his career, he taught at universities and worked as an editor.
The pinnacle of Thomas’s international recognition came with the publication of his novel The White Hotel (1981.) This groundbreaking work seamlessly blended historical fiction, psychoanalysis, and poetic prose to explore the complex interplay of sexuality, trauma, and the human psyche. Critics praised the novel for its innovative narrative style and daring exploration of psychological themes.
From 1983 to 1990, D. M. Thomas authored the ‘Russian Nights Quintet,’ a series that commenced with Ararat (1983) and concluded with Summit (1987,) inspired by a meeting between Gorbachev and Reagan. The quintet also included Lying Together (1990,) which foresaw the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s return. Subsequently, Thomas wrote Flying into Love (1992,) an exploration of JFK’s assassination, along with five other novels.
Beyond his novels, Thomas delved into poetry collections, plays, and works of non-fiction. His poems are compiled in Selected Poems (1983) and The Puberty Tree (1992.) His translations of Russian works into English, particularly those of Anna Akhmatova, Alexander Pushkin, and Yevgeny Yevtushenko, earned high praise. Additionally, his biography, Alexander Solzhenitsyn: A Century in His Life (1988,) was awarded the Orwell Prize in 1999.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by D. M. Thomas
Her hearing was keener than his, and she heard silences he was unaware of.
—D. M. Thomas
Topics: Silence
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