T.S. Eliot Reads: Four Quartets, the Waste Land, the Hollow Men, and Other of His Poems/Audio Cassettes (The Great Voices of the 20th Century) [Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

T. S. Eliot (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Great Voices of the 20th Century | Publication Date: February 1992

T. S. Eliot reads

• The Four Quartets,
• The Waste Land,
• The Hollow Men

and some of his other poems."It is always something of a revelation to listen to a poet reading his or her own words, and this is no exception. Eliot clearly and evenly characterizes and reveals the voices of some of his most important works in this excellent reading."-Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

T.S. Eliot (1888-1965) recast 20th century English poetry with a whole new vocabulary of technique, giving voice to a bold, vibrantly original Modernist style.  In addition to his poetry, his body of work includes many landmark critical essays, as well as plays such as The Cocktail Party and Murder in the Cathedral.  In 1948, he received the Nobel Prize for Literature

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Caedmon Audio Cassette (February 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559945699
• ISBN-13: 978-1559945691
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,168,438 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #80 in Books > Books on Cassette > Literature & Fiction > Poetry, Drama & Short Stories

More About the Author

Thomas Stearns Eliot was born in 1888 in St. Louis, Missouri, and became a British subject in 1927. The acclaimed poet of The Waste Land, Four Quartets, and Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, among numerous other poems, prose, and works of drama, won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1948. T.S. Eliot died in 1965 in London, England, and is buried in Westminster Abbey.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eliot's excellent oratory enhances his poetic genius., August 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: T.S. Eliot Reads: Four Quartets, the Waste Land, the Hollow Men, and Other of His Poems/Audio Cassettes (The Great Voices of the 20th Century) (Audio Cassette)

T. S. Eliot is a fantastic orator. Listening to him read his masterpieces- arguably the best body of work written in English in this century- has immeasurably enhanced my appreciation of the bizzarre and beautiful music of his lines. Before hearing these tapes, I had been indifferent to some of Eliot's poems; now his tapes have shown me how to read his rhythms and start to untangle his tropes, allowing me to better appreciate his verbal and metaphysical mastery. Anyone who likes Eliot's poetry, and anyone who has trouble appreciating it on the printed page alone, should definitely buy these tapes, and more.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How could this not be great!, January 12, 2000

By 

Kenneth J. Garcia "Jazz Is ..." (Baltimore, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: T.S. Eliot Reads: Four Quartets, the Waste Land, the Hollow Men, and Other of His Poems/Audio Cassettes (The Great Voices of the 20th Century) (Audio Cassette)

Eliot's voice reading his own poems. The sound of a pair of ragged claws scratching across the shores of silent seas... Anyway, although a rough reference there, I know, his dry, almost detached demeanor reflected in his monophonic, monotonic voice perfectly captures the true tenor and substance of the poems. I would highly recommend these tapes for anyone into Elliot's work.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect Pairing, April 17, 2005

By 

Funionsyeh - See all my reviews

This review is from: T.S. Eliot Reads: Four Quartets, the Waste Land, the Hollow Men, and Other of His Poems/Audio Cassettes (The Great Voices of the 20th Century) (Audio Cassette)

As someone who has spent months studying Eliot, I can say with conviction that the people who have given this work unfavorable ratings do not understand his poetry. Eliot reads his work with a dry, depressing voice that does not necessarily pay attention to the punctuation and is, admitedly, not always pleasant to listen to.
His reading of the poetry, however, is exactly how it is meant to be read. His interpretation of his poems becomes clear through the reading, and this harsh unmoving voice serves only to further the mood that each poem evokes. While it is not something to listen to at a party or other lighthearted gathering, if one wants to get the most realistic view of Eliot's poetry, it is necessary to listen to his recordings.