Derek Walcott, born in St. Lucia, is known for his body of work that blends Caribbean, English and African traditions. In 1992, the Nobel academy praised him "for a poetic oeuvre of great luminosity, sustained by a historical vision, the outcome of a multicultural commitment."

Publishing his first poems at the age of 18, Mr. Walcott has since published 18 volumes of poetry including In a Green Night, Another Life, Sea Grapes, The Star-Apple Kingdom, Collected Poems, 1948-1984, The Arkansas Testament, Omeros and The Bounty.

Mr. Walcott’s best known play, Dream on Monkey Mountain, won an Obie for best foreign play off-Broadway in 1970-71. Some of his other dramatic works include Drums and Colours, The Charlatan, Remembrance and The Odyssey: A Stage Version. He wrote the story and lyrics for Paul Simon's recent Broadway musical, The Capeman.

Mr. Walcott is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and the MacArthur Prize. He currently is a professor of Creative Writing at Boston University.

 

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