Anchored in Memory: Rediscovering Daniel Thaly’s West Indies

Daniel Thaly (1879–1950) stands as a vital, if too often overlooked, figure in West Indian literature. Acclaimed as the “prince des poètes antillais,” Thaly’s poetry captured the lush beauty, layered nostalgia, and cultural complexity of the Caribbean experience. His lyrical evocations of Dominica and Martinique, his painterly eye for nature, and his exploration of belonging and exile continue to resonate. 

Despite facing later criticism for his perceived distance from political activism, his work dignifies Caribbean peoples and histories, treating their struggles with empathy and anchoring his verse in tangible connections to place and memory. His ability to transform personal and collective longing into enduring art makes Thaly’s work essential reading—a testament to both the brilliance and contradictions of his era, and a foundational voice in the literary history of the West Indies. 

In this seminar, we celebrate the publication of Looting Hummingbirds: Selected Poems of Daniel Thaly (Papillote Press, 2026), the first collection of Thaly’s work to be published in English, and explore why this poet of Dominica still matters today. 

Please note that this is an online event.

Click here to register over zoom.