Page "Dylan Thomas" Paragraph 39

Dylan's legacy as the " doomed poet " was cemented with the publication of Brinnin's 1955 biography Dylan Thomas in America, which focusses on his last few years and paints a picture of him as a drunk and a philanderer.

Later biographies are critical of Brinnin's view, especially his coverage of Thomas ' death.

David Thomas in Fatal Neglect: Who Killed Dylan Thomas?

claims that Brinnin, along with Reitell and Feltenstein, were culpable.

FitzGibbon ’ s 1965 biography ignores Thomas ' heavy drinking and skims over his death, giving just two pages in his detailed book to Thomas ' demise.

Ferris in his 1989 biography includes Thomas ' heavy drinking, but is more critical of those around him in his final days and does not draw the conclusion that he drank himself to death.

The role of Feltenstein has been criticised by many sources, especially his incorrect diagnosis of delirium tremens and the high dose of morphine he administered.

Dr B. W.

Murphy and Dr C. G.

de Gutierrez-Mahoney, doctors that treated Thomas while at St. Vincents, concluded that Faltenstein's failure to see that Thomas was gravely ill and have him admitted to hospital sooner, " was even more culpable than his use of morphine ".