T. S. Eliot (1888–1965)

A sometimes bewildering book, possibly because it's so short (and was never intended to be a book, but is actually a transcription of a lecture, if I understand correctly). This book is notable in part because Eliot refused permission to reprint it, after he was denounced for at least one blatantly anti-semitic, racist really, comment in the lecture. In its book form, it could have been interesting if he had taken the "primer" concept a little farther: he concludes with a few half-formed exercises, but no clear instructions on how to complete them. I thought the book very interesting.… (mehr)

This book had been on my shelves for a VERY long time, so I decided to make this the first book I read for National Poetry Month.

I was so impossibly charmed by the first poem, "The Naming of Cats!" Especially the lines:

His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.

Listen. Ineffable has been one of my top ten favorite words ever since reading Good Omens back in my college days. But effanineffable!

After that poem, the rest were cute enough. I can see how they were designed to charm children, but the passage of time and dislocation of place has soften the corners of some of the particulars. Especially some of the tired Asian stereotypes.

But the illustrations by Edward Gorey won me back over any time my interest started to dim.… (mehr)

[Four Quartets] (T S Eliot) (14/01/24) *****



Finally I have settled to read this extraordinary volume. I saw Ralph Fiennes perform it on stage in 2022 (there is a short bite of that recording below, as well as Eliot reading the complete Quartets).

It really is difficult to say much about it. I read it twice today, and plan to read it at least once a month this year, I really want to know it. The rhythm is wonderful, and in its time original, but so many writers have been inspired by it since, its originality is less noticeable perhaps now. The language is mostly unfussy, but its meditation on time, nature, philosophy and life is hypnotic.

Fiennes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n07_rilmM18

Eliot: https://archive.org/details/lp_t-s-eliot-reads-his-four-quartets_t-s-eliot… (mehr)