A Pearl of Great Price

Never-before-published letters from Dylan Thomas to his American mistress, Harper’s Bazaar literary editor Pearl Kazin, fill this book. Scans of the original letters are reproduced within. The intense, passionate correspondence was bought and sold on condition: that it would not be published during Pearl’s lifetime. Editor Jeff Towns was given permission to use the letters by Kazin’s son, David, after her death. They provide a unique insight into Dylan's side of the story. Dylan Thomas met Kazin while taking a chance on selling a story, “A Child’s Christmas in Wales.” She takes the story and an intense and passionate relationship begins. They negotiate a time together of fleeting love, wishes, and words. Pearl kept the letters he sent to her, but Dylan kept nothing but his memories. The six never-before-published letters sent from Thomas to Kazin, along with a couple of snapshots of them together in London, are a record of a love affair—an intense journey that was immensely important to both of them.

“A unique insight.”  —Sunday Times