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The Followers
- GenresShort Stories
32 pages, softcover
First published January 1, 1952
About the author
Dylan Thomas
632 books1,448 followersDylan Marlais Thomas (1914-1953) was a Welsh poet who wrote in English. Many regard him as one of the 20th century's most influential poets.
In addition to poetry, Thomas wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, with the latter frequently performed by Thomas himself. His public readings, particularly in America, won him great acclaim; his booming, at times, ostentatious voice, with a subtle Welsh lilt, became almost as famous as his works. His best-known work includes the "play for voices" Under Milk Wood and the celebrated villanelle for his dying father, "Do not go gentle into that good night." Appreciative critics have also noted the superb craftsmanship and compression of poems such as "In my craft or sullen art" and the rhapsodic lyricism of Fern Hill.
In addition to poetry, Thomas wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, with the latter frequently performed by Thomas himself. His public readings, particularly in America, won him great acclaim; his booming, at times, ostentatious voice, with a subtle Welsh lilt, became almost as famous as his works. His best-known work includes the "play for voices" Under Milk Wood and the celebrated villanelle for his dying father, "Do not go gentle into that good night." Appreciative critics have also noted the superb craftsmanship and compression of poems such as "In my craft or sullen art" and the rhapsodic lyricism of Fern Hill.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 1, 2026
#short stories in the shortest month
Uma rapariga gorducha, loira, a cheirar a coelhos molhados, afetada mesmo naquela noite lúgubre, passou por nós em passinhos miúdos nos seus saltos altos. Os saltos tiquetaqueavam, as solas ressumavam.
Leslie soltou um assobio à passagem dela, baixo e admirativo.
- Primeiro as obrigações – disse eu.
A provar que homens de séculos diferentes e de extremos opostos da Europa podem achar graça à mesma actividade de gosto duvidoso, depois dos dois malogrados amigos de São Petersburgo criados por Gogol, também Dylan Thomas traz dois estarolas que não encontram melhor passatempo que seguir incautos transeuntes pelas ruas de uma vila galesa. No conto “Os Seguidores”, dois jovens entediados num final de tarde chuvoso, passam primeiro pelo pub com o dinheiro contado…
O Marlborough estava frio e vazio. As paredes húmidas estavam cheias de avisos: Proibido Cantar. Proibido Dançar. Proibido Jogar. Proibido Vendedores Ambulantes.
- Tu cantas – disse eu ao Leslie – e eu danço, depois jogamos às cartas e eu vendo os meus suspensórios.
…e, em seguida, nesta “noite mais triste do mundo”, seguem uma rapariga até sua casa, onde ficam a espreitá-la pelas janelas, até apanharem o susto das suas vidas.
Pergunto a mim próprio qual é o interesse em seguir pessoas – disse Leslie -, é uma coisa de chalados.
Uma rapariga gorducha, loira, a cheirar a coelhos molhados, afetada mesmo naquela noite lúgubre, passou por nós em passinhos miúdos nos seus saltos altos. Os saltos tiquetaqueavam, as solas ressumavam.
Leslie soltou um assobio à passagem dela, baixo e admirativo.
- Primeiro as obrigações – disse eu.
A provar que homens de séculos diferentes e de extremos opostos da Europa podem achar graça à mesma actividade de gosto duvidoso, depois dos dois malogrados amigos de São Petersburgo criados por Gogol, também Dylan Thomas traz dois estarolas que não encontram melhor passatempo que seguir incautos transeuntes pelas ruas de uma vila galesa. No conto “Os Seguidores”, dois jovens entediados num final de tarde chuvoso, passam primeiro pelo pub com o dinheiro contado…
O Marlborough estava frio e vazio. As paredes húmidas estavam cheias de avisos: Proibido Cantar. Proibido Dançar. Proibido Jogar. Proibido Vendedores Ambulantes.
- Tu cantas – disse eu ao Leslie – e eu danço, depois jogamos às cartas e eu vendo os meus suspensórios.
…e, em seguida, nesta “noite mais triste do mundo”, seguem uma rapariga até sua casa, onde ficam a espreitá-la pelas janelas, até apanharem o susto das suas vidas.
Pergunto a mim próprio qual é o interesse em seguir pessoas – disse Leslie -, é uma coisa de chalados.
October 23, 2021
A wonderful wisp of a short story from Dylan Thomas. “The Followers” has two gents meeting for a drink after work on a rainy night, and then following a random woman home to spy on her through her window in what is apparently regular entertainment for them. Yes, kinda creepy, but it’s “innocent creepy” if such a thing can be, and on this occasion they themselves are in for a little surprise. Thomas is lyrical and creates beautiful imagery; I also loved the artwork in this little edition from 1976 that I happened across in a used bookstore in Berkeley.
Just one quote to give a taste:
“The peeling, liver-coloured room might never have been drunk in at all. Here, commercials told jokes and had Scotches and sodas with happy, dyed, port-and-lemon women; dejected regulars grew grand and muzzy in the corners, inventing their pasts, being rich, important and loved; reprobate grannies in dustbin black cackled and nipped; influential nobodies revised the earth; a party, with earrings, called ‘Frilly Willy’ played the cripple piano, which sounded like a hurdy-gurdy playing under water, until the publican’s nosy wife said, ‘No.’ Strangers came and went, but mostly went. Men from the valleys dropped in for nine or ten; sometimes there were fights; and always there was something doing; some argie-bargie, giggle and bluster, horror or folly, affection, explosion, nonsense, peace, some wild goose flying in the boozy air of that comfortless, humdrum nowhere in the dizzy, ditchwater town at the end of the railway lines. But that evening it was the saddest room I had ever known.”
Just one quote to give a taste:
“The peeling, liver-coloured room might never have been drunk in at all. Here, commercials told jokes and had Scotches and sodas with happy, dyed, port-and-lemon women; dejected regulars grew grand and muzzy in the corners, inventing their pasts, being rich, important and loved; reprobate grannies in dustbin black cackled and nipped; influential nobodies revised the earth; a party, with earrings, called ‘Frilly Willy’ played the cripple piano, which sounded like a hurdy-gurdy playing under water, until the publican’s nosy wife said, ‘No.’ Strangers came and went, but mostly went. Men from the valleys dropped in for nine or ten; sometimes there were fights; and always there was something doing; some argie-bargie, giggle and bluster, horror or folly, affection, explosion, nonsense, peace, some wild goose flying in the boozy air of that comfortless, humdrum nowhere in the dizzy, ditchwater town at the end of the railway lines. But that evening it was the saddest room I had ever known.”
January 2, 2024
[J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd.] (1976). First thus. SB. 32 Pages. Purchased from lydiwre_1.
6 o’clock, winter, raining… “It was the saddest evening I had ever known.”
Two aimless, short of cash men, who are “too young and too old”, reveal their penchant for voyeurism.
They follow a girl home and contrive to observe her via an uncurtained window situated to the property’s rear. Peculiar, potentially paranormal, activities briefly ensue and they flee into the night.
Beautifully illustrated by Meg Stevens.
First collected within “A Prospect of the Sea” (1955) as “A Story”.
6 o’clock, winter, raining… “It was the saddest evening I had ever known.”
Two aimless, short of cash men, who are “too young and too old”, reveal their penchant for voyeurism.
They follow a girl home and contrive to observe her via an uncurtained window situated to the property’s rear. Peculiar, potentially paranormal, activities briefly ensue and they flee into the night.
Beautifully illustrated by Meg Stevens.
First collected within “A Prospect of the Sea” (1955) as “A Story”.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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July 13, 20202 peeping tom
September 14, 2021
Beautiful prose, but what a creepy story. Two young men follow a woman home and spy on her through her kitchen window!
February 3, 2023
Haunting
December 10, 2025
very short...atmospheric - hopefully a good introduction to writings of Dylan Thomas.
August 18, 2024
Two young men meet for a drink after work on a rainy night. For something to do, they follow a random woman home (a bit of a weird thing to do but no malicious intention on their part). They watch through a window the young woman and her mother having dinner but they have their own shock of a supernatural kind and run off scared in to the night.
The best thing about Dylan Thomas is that he often takes the most ordinary circumstances but writes about it in the most wonderful, lyrical prose that you can't put it down.
I listened to an audio of this read by Michael Sheen. Fantastic reading.
The best thing about Dylan Thomas is that he often takes the most ordinary circumstances but writes about it in the most wonderful, lyrical prose that you can't put it down.
I listened to an audio of this read by Michael Sheen. Fantastic reading.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews