
by T. S. ELIOT
New York Alfred A. Knopf 1920
To Jean Verdenal 1889-1915 - Certain of these poems first appeared in Poetry, Blast, Others, The Little Review, and Art and Letters.
POEMS
Gerontion
Burbank with a Baedeker: Bleistein with a Cigar
Sweeney Erect
A Cooking Egg
Le Directeur
Mélange adultère de tout
A quiet, unsettling voice drifts through this collection, stitching together fragments of memory, myth, and cityscape. The poems move from the intimacy of a single remembered moment to a broader, collage‑like view of a world still reverberating from conflict. Eliot’s language is spare yet richly allusive, inviting listeners to linger on each turn of phrase as if tracing a thread through a tapestry of echoing voices.
The work explores the weariness of age, the shadows of war, and the search for meaning amid modern decay. Ghosts of ancient stories mingle with the clatter of contemporary streets, while images of rain‑soaked houses, distant seas, and fleeting encounters create a vivid soundscape. As the poems unfold, listeners are drawn into a contemplative space where history and personal longing intersect, offering moments of both melancholy and sudden clarity.
Language
en
Duration
~43 minutes (41K characters)
Release date
1998-12-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1888–1965
A central voice of modern poetry, he reshaped 20th-century literature with works that are challenging, musical, and unforgettable. His writing ranges from the fragmented world of The Waste Land to the playful charm of Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.
View all books