Thesis alleges poet Thomas was dyslexic

OXFORD, England, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- A Yorkshire, England, Ph.D. student alleges in an English thesis that Dylan Thomas' famed works were the result of the Welsh poet being dyslexic.

The Telegraph reported that 27-year-old Alexandra Davies will present her evidence regarding the poet, whose works are widely renowned throughout Wales, at a contemporary poetry conference later this month. But her work has already stirred up controversy.

Davies is dyslexic. Her finding has drawn approval from the British Dyslexia Association, but Cecily Hughes of the Dylan Thomas Society has called the research "not worthy of a reply."

"There are lots of letters in his (Thomas') own handwriting which have no evidence that he was dyslexic," said Hughes. My first reaction was that I didn't want to dignify this debate by entering it at all."

Thomas was known for his use of intriguing language and extraordinary imagery in works such as "Under Milk Wood," in which the poet portrayed the town of Llareggub -- which is "bugger all" written backwards, and cited by Davies as possible evidence he may have been dyslexic, the newspaper said.