Walcott, Derek (1930-2017), a West Indian poet and playwright, won the 1992 Nobel Prize in literature. His work explores such themes as the Caribbean experience from colonial slavery to independence, and the nature of the Caribbean’s post-colonial identity—a mixture of different cultures and traditions. Walcott’s writings reflect his rich racial heritage and cultural background, both African and European. Walcott wrote his works in English. He used Creole vocabulary and calypso rhythm to evoke an image of his homeland in his poems and verse plays.
Walcott’s first commercially published collection of poetry was In a Green Night: Poems, 1948-1960 (1962). His other works in verse include Another Life (1973), a long narrative poem; The Star-Apple Kingdom (1979); The Fortunate Traveller (1981); Midsummer (1984); The Arkansas Testament (1987); Bounty (1997); and White Egrets (2010). Omeros (1990) is an epic poem that describes the poet’s inner struggle to find a balance between personal and collective memories. Another epic poem, Tiepolo’s Hound (2000), centers on the Impressionist painter Camille Pissaro, who was born in the Virgin Islands. The Prodigal (2004), a book-length poem, is part travel book and part autobiography. The Poetry of Derek Walcott 1948-2013 was published in 2014.
Walcott’s plays include Dream on Monkey Mountain (1967), Remembrance (1977), Pantomime (1978), and Odyssey: A Stage Version (1993). They focus on the human struggle against hypocrisy, exploitation, and authority. Walcott also wrote the musical The Capeman (1997) with American songwriter Paul Simon.
Derek Alton Walcott was born on Jan. 23, 1930, in Castries, Saint Lucia. He was educated at St. Mary’s College and the University of the West Indies. He taught at several universities in the United States and was appointed professor of English at Boston University in 1981. Walcott died on March 17, 2017.
