Sir Derek Walcott was one of the greatest poets of his time, capturing the essence of the Caribbean in his works. The award-winning poet and playwright passed at the age of 87 in his native St. Lucia last Friday, leaving behind a towering literary legacy.
Walcott was born January 30, 1930 in Cap Estate, Gros-Islet, St. Lucia. His parents, both immersed in the world of poetry, passed on their appreciation of the arts to their three children. Walcott’s twin brother, the late Roderick Walcott, became a playwright himself.
At 18, Walcott began publishing the first of his written works while studying at the University College of the West Indies in Jamaica. After leaving the university, Walcott settled in Trinidad in 1953 and worked in a variety of capacities as a writer and teacher. (READ MORE)
