A startling new claim has emerged that threatens to reshape the early narrative of one of Wales's most celebrated literary figures. A publisher and translator alleges that the young Dylan Thomas was a 'serial plagiarist', lifting the work of other poets to pass off as his own during his school years.
The Allegations of 'Audacious Rip-Offs'
The claims are made by publisher and Italian translator Alessandro Gallenzi. He states he has identified at least a dozen instances where the budding poet's work was not his own. According to Gallenzi, ten poems published in Thomas's school magazine and a further two printed in The Herald of Wales were, in fact, 'audacious rip-offs'.
One of the poems singled out, titled 'His Repertoire', is said to have been taken 'almost verbatim' from publications popular at the time, such as the Boy's Own Paper. This suggests a systematic pattern of copying, rather than isolated incidents of youthful imitation.
A Motive Rooted in Family Approval
Gallenzi has also proposed a potential motive for the young Thomas's actions. The poet's father, David John Thomas, was an English teacher at the very school Dylan attended. The publisher theorises that the teenage Dylan may have plagiarised the work in a bid to gain recognition and approval from his father, a formidable intellectual figure in his life.
This psychological insight adds a poignant layer to the scandal, painting a picture of a talented but insecure youth seeking validation through literary deception.
Revolutionising the Understanding of a Poet's Formative Years
These significant findings are due to be included in a forthcoming new edition of Thomas's collected poetry. Gallenzi believes the revelations will 'revolutionise our thinking' about the poet's formative years and his early creative output.
It forces a re-examination of the origins of Thomas's genius, separating the myth of the precocious schoolboy prodigy from a more complex reality involving appropriation. The literary community is now poised to scrutinise how this new information alters the perception of his journey to becoming the iconic voice behind works like 'Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night'.
The allegations, reported on Thursday 08 January 2026, are set to spark intense debate among scholars, biographers, and admirers of Dylan Thomas's work worldwide.
