R. S. Thomas (1913 2000) is the most recognizable literary figure in Wales. His controversial politics and public personality made him a cultural icon and, since his death, have led to debates about his cultural significance. Yet such debates have too frequently marginalized the poetry itself, producing a potentially flawed understanding of his work. This study argues that Thomas s reputation must be grounded in poetry, not personality. Accordingly, the author traces the poet s development over six decades, analyzing his various prosodies and demonstrating how Thomas s tensions and...