|
|
The Nobel Prize Winner Derek Walcott (*1930 St. Lucia/ Lesser Antilles) published his first poetry collection at just 18 years of age. In addition to poetry, his is also passionate about the theatre. He has published two plays, worked as a theatre critic and founded two theatre groups. His experience with theatre and art is reflected in his poetry works. The description of the effects of light and colour, central in many poems, sometimes expands into nothing short of lighting direction. The debate about Caribbean identity leaves a heavy impression on his work. In the epic poem “Omeros” (1990), he adapted Homerian mythology to the reality of daily life in the Caribbean.
Walcott teaches literature and creative writing at Boston University. He is an honorary member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. In 1992 he won the Nobel Prize for Literature.
His latest publication was “Selected Poems” (2007).