Napoleon, Island of Elba and Dylan Thomas

The Welsh poet and writer in the town of the mines, Rio Marina

2014 year marks the centenary of Dylan Thomas’ birth and in the City of Swansea, where he was born, and in other places there are events to celebrate the poetry and writer. But 2014 is the Napoleon bicentennial on the Elba island. So I’d like to tell you that in summer 1947 Dylan Thomas stayed some days in a little town of Elba Island, Rio Marina. In the same year he started to work at his poem “In country sleep” .

But about this travel in Italy and expecially in Rio Marina it’s very interesting to read what he wrote.

“Lucky Napoleon! This is a most beautiful island; and Rio Marina the strangest town on it: only fishermen and miners live here: four tourists: no foreigners. Extremely rough. Something like a Latin Caharciveen. Notices “fighting prohibited” in all bars. Elba cognac 3d. Of course, no licensing hours. Bathing wonderful .”

He liked very much the Elba Island so that his first thing was about Napoleon and his stay there. Another aspect is the nature of the town of Rio Marina, the town “built” in the mine, how it can see even now. The writer was probably fascinated by this place even for the affinity with his Swansea and its mines.