Next week sees the publication in Ireland and Britain of Jackie Hayden’s A Map Of Love – Around Wales With Dylan Thomas, a combined CD and book dealing with the places in Wales associated with the poet Dylan Thomas and referenced in his works.

As Hayden explains, “I first became attracted to Dylan Thomas through reading the erroneous story that Bob Dylan, another hero of mine, had changed his name because of his admiration for the Welsh poet. Dylan once recorded under the name Robert Milkwood Thomas, an obvious blend of his own name with that of Dylan Thomas and Thomas’ great work, Under Milk Wood. John Lennon was also another admirer, and was responsible for Thomas’ face featuring on the famous Sergeant Pepper album sleeve. In fact, Paul McCartney has claimed that Dylan Thomas inspired Lennon to write.”

Hayden’s CD script is read by Welsh arch-druid Jim Parc Nest, and was recorded in the room where Dylan was born in Swansea and, is published jointly by Iconau Books and Fflach Records. A Map of Love – Around Wales with Dylan Thomas is the follow-up to Hayden’s number one bestseller of last year, My Boy, his biography of Phil Lynott based on interviews he recorded with the rock star’s mother Philomena.