Derek Alton Walcott

Born:

23 January 1930, Castries, Saint Lucia

Died:

17 March 2017, Cap Estate, Saint Lucia

Nationality:

Saint Lucian

Profession(s):

Poet, Playwright, Writer, Professor

Early Life and Education

• Born to Warwick Walcott and Alix Maarlin, both teachers.
• Raised in a Methodist household.
• Began writing poetry at a young age.
• Educated at St. Mary's College in Saint Lucia.
• Received a scholarship to study at the University College of the West Indies in Jamaica.

Career and Major Achievements

• Founded the Trinidad Theatre Workshop in 1959.
• Served as Professor of Poetry at the University of Essex.
• Taught creative writing at Boston University for over two decades.
• Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1992.
• Received a MacArthur Fellowship (1981).
• Obie Award for Best New American Play (1971).

Notable Works

• In a Green Night: Poems 1948–1960 (1962)
• Dream on Monkey Mountain (1970, play)
• Omeros (1990, epic poem)
• The Odyssey: A Stage Version (1993, play)
• White Egrets (2010, poetry collection)

Legacy and Impact

Derek Walcott is considered one of the most important Caribbean writers of the 20th and 21st centuries. His poetry explored themes of colonialism, identity, and the beauty of the Caribbean landscape. Further information regarding a poet derek walcott biography wikipedia page provides comprehensive details about his life and work.

Awards and Honors

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