Items related to Laughter from the Dark: Life of Gwyn Thomas
Synopsis
This is a biography which chronicles the life of Gwyn Thomas, the much-admired Welsh radio and television personality who died in 1981. During his 30 years with the media, he participated in a wide range of programmes including "The Brains Trust", film documentaries on Venice, New York, Moscow, commentaries on Eisteddfodau, literary lectures, St David's Day broadcasts and contributions to the BBC "Tonight" show. Since his death, his novels, short stories and plays have begun to be rediscovered. Both as a schoolmaster and as a prolific writer he made his mark by entertainment. It was his talent for performing that drew him into a world of friendships with celebrities including Richard Burton, Jack Hylton, Stanley Baker, Sam Wanamaker, Harry Secombe and Donald Houston. In his mature years his public life left him little time for writing but evident in all his work is his love for Rhondda, the valley where he was born and its people. Besides being an entertainer and raconteur, he was committed politically to a humane socialism. The author reveals how Gwyn Thomas chose to laugh in the face of absurdity when he was shocked by his own failures and imperfections. Parnell adds that his gaiety was so infectious that few could guess at the bewilderment and despair which underlay much of his life. The author's biography of Eric Linklater won the Yorkshire Post Prize for Best First Work of the Year.
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- PublisherJohn Murray Publishers Ltd
- Publication date1988
- ISBN 10 0719544262
- ISBN 13 9780719544262
- BindingHardcover
- Edition number1
- Number of pages256
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Laughter from the Dark: Life of Gwyn Thomas
Published by
Hodder & Stoughton General Division, United Kingdom, London, 1988
ISBN 10: 0719544262
ISBN 13: 9780719544262
Used
Paperback
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. This is a biography which chronicles the life of Gwyn Thomas, the much-admired Welsh radio and television personality who died in 1981. During his 30 years with the media, he participated in a wide range of programmes including The Brains Trust, film documentaries on Venice, New York, Moscow, commentaries on Eisteddfodau, literary lectures, St David's Day broadcasts and contributions to the BBC Tonight show. Since his death, his novels, short stories and plays have begun to be rediscovered. Both as a schoolmaster and as a prolific writer he made his mark by entertainment. It was his talent for performing that drew him into a world of friendships with celebrities including Richard Burton, Jack Hylton, Stanley Baker, Sam Wanamaker, Harry Secombe and Donald Houston. In his mature years his public life left him little time for writing but evident in all his work is his love for Rhondda, the valley where he was born and its people. Besides being an entertainer and raconteur, he was committed politically to a humane socialism. The author reveals how Gwyn Thomas chose to laugh in the face of absurdity when he was shocked by his own failures and imperfections. Parnell adds that his gaiety was so infectious that few could guess at the bewilderment and despair which underlay much of his life. The author's biography of Eric Linklater won the Yorkshire Post Prize for Best First Work of the Year. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR002060053
Quantity: 2 available
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Laughter from the Dark: Life of Gwyn Thomas
Published by
Hodder & Stoughton General Division, United Kingdom, London, 1988
ISBN 10: 0719544262
ISBN 13: 9780719544262
Used
Paperback
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Good. This is a biography which chronicles the life of Gwyn Thomas, the much-admired Welsh radio and television personality who died in 1981. During his 30 years with the media, he participated in a wide range of programmes including The Brains Trust, film documentaries on Venice, New York, Moscow, commentaries on Eisteddfodau, literary lectures, St David's Day broadcasts and contributions to the BBC Tonight show. Since his death, his novels, short stories and plays have begun to be rediscovered. Both as a schoolmaster and as a prolific writer he made his mark by entertainment. It was his talent for performing that drew him into a world of friendships with celebrities including Richard Burton, Jack Hylton, Stanley Baker, Sam Wanamaker, Harry Secombe and Donald Houston. In his mature years his public life left him little time for writing but evident in all his work is his love for Rhondda, the valley where he was born and its people. Besides being an entertainer and raconteur, he was committed politically to a humane socialism. The author reveals how Gwyn Thomas chose to laugh in the face of absurdity when he was shocked by his own failures and imperfections. Parnell adds that his gaiety was so infectious that few could guess at the bewilderment and despair which underlay much of his life. The author's biography of Eric Linklater won the Yorkshire Post Prize for Best First Work of the Year. The book has been read but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact and the cover is intact. Some minor wear to the spine. Seller Inventory # GOR002108456
Quantity: 1 available
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Laughter from the Dark: Life of Gwyn Thomas
Published by
John Murray Publishers Ltd, 1988
ISBN 10: 0719544262
ISBN 13: 9780719544262
Used
Hardcover
Seller: WeBuyBooks, Rossendale, LANCS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. Seller Inventory # wbs2002371916
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Laughter from the Dark: Life of Gwyn Thomas
Published by
John Murray Publishers Ltd 22/09/1988, 1988
ISBN 10: 0719544262
ISBN 13: 9780719544262
Used
Hardcover
Seller: Bahamut Media, Reading, United Kingdom
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Shipped within 24 hours from our UK warehouse. Clean, undamaged book with no damage to pages and minimal wear to the cover. Spine still tight, in very good condition. Remember if you are not happy, you are covered by our 100% money back guarantee. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780719544262
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Laughter from the Dark: A Life of Gwyn Thomas
Seller: Earthlight Books, Walla Walla, WA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Very good in very good dust jacket. dj under mylar, clean text, tight binding, few knicks and marks to DJ, minor wear to edges of DJ, 241 p. First edition. First printing. Full number line and/or stated 1st edition. Seller Inventory # Alibris0003273
Quantity: 1 available
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Laughter from the Dark
Published by
John Murray, London, 1988
ISBN 10: 0719544262
ISBN 13: 9780719544262
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Amazing Book Company, Liphook, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardback. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Thomas's early life was typical of many in the Rhondda. Born the son of a coalminer, he was six when his mother died and was effectively brought up by his sister. His academic excellence took him to Oxford University to study languages, but he struggled to establish himself as a writer after graduation. During the Depression, Thomas endured periods of unemployment and a series of part-time lecturing jobs across England while trying to get his first novel Sorrow For Thy Sons published. He returned to Wales in 1940 to work as a school teacher, first in Cardigan and then Barry, where he worked for twenty years. During this time his writing career took off, resulting in a dozen novels and acclaimed plays such as The Keep and the radio production Guto Nyth Bran. His success led to an invitation from the BBC to appear on its Brains Trust discussion programme first on radio and then TV. Thomas soon became a media personality, and in 1962 he retired from teaching to concentrate on his plays and television work, which included The Ship and The Dig. However, his health began to fail in the late 1960s due to a combination of diabetes and heavy drinking. In 1981 Thomas collapsed and was taken to the University Hospital in Cardiff where he died shortly before his 68th birthday. Thomas was commemorated on screen in 1993 when Sir Anthony Hopkins portrayed him in a BBC Wales TV production of his memoir Selected Exits. Moment of Glory: When The Keep was staged at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in 1961 it was hailed as a masterpiece and later translated into several languages. This book is in FINE condition in a price clipped dustwrapperthat is sunned to the spine and has some edge wear so best described as VERY GOOD. Seller Inventory # 002043
Quantity: 1 available
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LAUGHTER FROM THE DARK. A Life.
Published by
John Murray, 1988., 1988
ISBN 10: 0719544262
ISBN 13: 9780719544262
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Hay Cinema Bookshop Limited, Hay on Wye, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
1st edition. 8vo. xiii + 241pp. B/w. illustrations. Original boards. Pictorial red d/w. lettered in black and white, spine faded, some minor wear to edges. ISBN 0719544262 US$13. Seller Inventory # 195819
Quantity: 1 available
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Laughter from the Dark: A Life of Gwyn Thomas
Published by
John Murry ( Publishers ), London .UK, 1988
ISBN 10: 0719544262
ISBN 13: 9780719544262
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: powellbooks Somerset UK., Ilminster, SOM, United Kingdom
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. This book ' Laughter from the Dark; A Life of Gwyn Thomas' Michael Parnell chronicles the wry, amusing and ultimately saddening story of this complex, enigmatic, but richly gifted man. The black cloth boards, text block and dust jacket are all square, tight and clean. book price includes 2nd class parcel post in the UK only . this book is photographed in the box it is packed in as proof against in-transit damage. Seller Inventory # 10024
Quantity: 1 available