Derek Walcott - Biography.

Derek Walcott - Biography. West Indian poet and playwright Birth January 23, 1930 Place of Birth Castries, Saint Lucia Known for Plays based on aspects of Caribbean folk culture Richly descriptive poems that explore life in the Caribbean Milestones 1950 Founded the Saint Lucia Arts Guild 1958-1959 Studied theater in New York City 1959-1976 Founded and directed the Trinidad Theater Workshop 1962 Published In a Green Night: Poems 1948-1960 1973 Published Another Life, a book-length autobiographical poem in which he established the style that characterizes much of his work 1979 Published the book of poems The Star-Apple Kingdom, which is considered one of his greatest poetic works 1981 Moved to the United States 1984 Published Midsummer, a book of poetry that explores his experience as a writer of color in the United States 1990 Published Omeros, a book-length poem about two Caribbean fisherman that uses Homer's epics as its basis 1992 Received the Nobel Prize in literature 1993 Published the play The Odyssey: A Stage Version Did You Know During Walcott's childhood, his mother, a teacher, would go about the house reciting Shakespeare. Walcott's early ambition was to be a painter. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.