R. S. Thomas: Poet of the Hidden God: Meaning and Mediation in the Poetry of R. S. Thomas

To understand Thomas' poetry we must first understand his theology. Phillips comes closer than most to succeeding in this task, as he points to the central importance for Thomas of waiting for God. God is, for Thomas, Deus absconditus - we see and know nothing of God except what God chooses to reveal in brief glimpses. This book was published in 1986, so is a bit dated; and, of course, has been overtaken to some extent by Thomas' last works. However,it remains a valuable contribution to the growing literature on the work of this great poet.