Caitlin Macnamara Wife of poet and writer Dylan Thomas Date of Birth: 08.12.1913 Country: USA

Biography of Caitlin Macnamara

Caitlin Macnamara, the wife of poet and writer Dylan Thomas, was born in London. She was the youngest of four children born to poet Francis Macnamara and his wife Yvonne. The Macnamara family had Irish roots, with Caitlin's grandfather, Henry Vee Macnamara, being a landowner in County Clare.

At the age of four (or five, according to other sources), Caitlin's father left the family, and they moved to Ringwood. It was there that they befriended Welsh artist Augustus John and his family. Caitlin quickly grew into a beautiful young woman, and as a teenager, she fell in love with Caspar John, Augustus's son, despite the age difference. She also had a brief affair with Augustus himself.

In 1930, Caitlin returned to London and joined a dance school. By the age of 18, she was already singing in a choir. She spent some time in Paris before moving to County Clare in 1934, where her father had returned to his diminished ancestral estate.

Caitlin first met Dylan Thomas in a pub in London in 1936, introduced to him by Augustus John. They felt an immediate connection, and by April 21, 1937, they were living together in London. On July 11, 1937, they got married in Penzance, Cornwall. The couple constantly moved from place to place, living in Chelsea, Wales, Oxford, and finally settling in Laugharne.

During their marriage, Caitlin gave birth to three children - Llewelyn, Aeronwy, and Colm. While Dylan portrayed himself as a rebellious bohemian, Caitlin was the true independent spirit in their family. Despite the strain of alcohol and infidelity in their marriage, Caitlin and Dylan stayed together until his death in 1953.

After Dylan's death, Caitlin returned to Laugharne but found it difficult to live there due to the painful memories. She spent less and less time in Wales, traveling to Ireland and Italy instead. In 1957, Caitlin decided to permanently move to Italy. She lived with Welsh actor and writer Cliff Gordon for a while, although their relationship was platonic as he was gay. They shared a close friendship and companionship.

Caitlin later published her memoirs, "Leftover Life to Kill," which detailed her unique exile in Italy. She passed away on July 31, 1994, after a prolonged illness. To the surprise of her family, Caitlin was buried next to Dylan in Laugharne, as they had believed she would prefer to be laid to rest in Italy.