Derek Walcott (1930-2017)

Awarded the Prize “for a poetic oeuvre of great luminosity, sustained by a historical vision, the outcome of a multicultural commitment.”

St. Lucian poet and dramatist. Walcott was born on January 23, 1930 at Castries in Saint Lucia. After studying at St. Mary’s College in his native island  at the University of the West Indias in Jamaica, Walcott moved in 1953 to Trinidad, where he has worked as a theatre and art critic. At the age of 18, he made his debut with 25 Poems. He was the founding director of the Little Carib Theatre. He teaches literature  and creative writing at Boston University. Walcott died on 17 March 2017 in Cap Estate, Saint Lucia.

Major Works:
25 Poems (1948); In a Green Night (1962); Dream on Monkey Mountain (1970);
Another Life (1973); Omeros (1990); White Egrets (2010)