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Customer Reviews (2)

Poem=Great; Annotation=Weak
I'm dividing my review into two parts.The first addresses the poem and the second the annotations.My stars are for the poem.If I could give stars for the annotation, I would give no more than two.

My thoughts and comments about Waste Land are evolving.I've read the poem several times and have even copied it in my own scribble word for word.Do I love it?No.Do I understand it?Not so much. But I believe that it is a blueprint to modernism.That Eliot along with Joyce produced modernist guides that unfortunately weren't used to produce great successive work.Modernism became more about being new in a gimmicky way rather than in the profoundly reverential and insightful way that Joyce and Eliot suggested.Reverential; why is that important to modernism?Because it grounds the breaking of barriers, the leaps of faith and taste beyond mainstream norms within the very expansive and rich human artistic tradition.That way this treasure trove of wonders builds on itself, encompasses more of what make our artistic endeavors endure.If modernism is all about smashing the traditions then where does it go after all the smashing?I think we know the answer as our own times show a lack of cultural energy and direction.What both Joyce and Elliot did was create masterworks that referred, incorporated and expanded upon artistic legacies and exploded them.This tension between tradition and heresy is what makes their work so important.That and the fact that they brought both of those elements together to create works of astonishing imaginative power.Were their creations simply too much for their generations and future ones to comprehend?Did they dazzle and numb when they should have emboldened and prodded?Perhaps but I think that they still stand as the beacons of the modernist tradition that will live on and perhaps point the way to an invigorated and astonishing artistic tradition to come.

My feelings about Mr. Rainey's annotations are strongly negative.For example, where Eliot points to Baudelaire's poem regarding the last line in the "Burial of the Dead" Mr. Rainey provides the text of the entire poem (in both the original French and the translated English) but no where does he provide an insight to why Eliot would end this section with such a challenging line, "Hypocrite reader! - You!- My twin! - My brother!"This is typical of his annotations. Another line by line guide, B.C. Southam's "A guide to the selected poems of T.S. Elliot," looks at that same line and rather than provide the entire "Les Fluers du Mal", he explains that both poem are afflicted with a sense of"spiritual dissatisfaction."This is an example of an insight Mr. Rainey never provides.After reading "Waste Land" and the fifty one pages of annotation, I only feel burdened by his references not enlightened by them.

Then spoke the thunder...
Having recently read Alfred Appel's very erudite and comprehensive annotations to "Lolita," I have to admit that Prof. Rainey's effort here is something of a mixed bag.On the plus side, he avoids the temptation to "explain" the poem to us, since this poem of voices cries out for individual interpretation.He provides extensive excerpts and quotes from the works to which Eliot alludes.Unlike Appel, however, there is scarcely any analysis of how the allusions fit into the plan and structure of the poem.Some of the claimed allusions make one scratch one's head in bewilderment and imagine Eliot grinning from the great beyond at the confusion he has caused.On the other hand, Prof. Rainey misses obvious allusions, such as the recurring "Unreal City," which echoes the short fiction of Gerard de Nerval, whose "El Desdichado" is quoted by Eliot at line 429.(Prof. Rainey appears thrown off by Eliot's own citation to Beaudelaire;Eliot deftly pulled off a simulatneous allusion to both French authors, and there is really not any discussion here of how Eliot was influenced by the French symbolists.)Also, Prof. Rainey fails to annotate other lines that appear to be allusive, or if not are deserving of commentary just for one's overall study of the poem.His introduction captures only the tiniest bit of Eliot's craft and continuing relevance, and instead spends page after page on painstaking and eventally quite uninteresting exposition on the publication history of the poem.Coming to this poem again 28 years after reading it in college, I found it still retains both its intellectual and emotional power, which is likely what makes it such an enduring masterpiece.Its exploration of melancholy is unmatched. ... Read more

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Bringing together scholars from a wide range of critical approaches, this collection studies T.S. Eliot's engagement with desire, homoeroticism and feminism in his poetry, prose and drama. In particular, it illuminates the influence of Eliot's poet mother; the dynamic of homosexuality in his work; his poetic identification with passive desire; and his reception by female academics from the early twentieth century to the present. The book will be essential reading for students of Eliot and Modernism, as well as of queer theory and gender studies. ... Read more

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In this Companion, an international team of leading T. S. Eliot scholars contribute studies of different facets of the writer's work to build up a carefully co-ordinated and fully rounded introduction. Five chapters give a complete account of Eliot's poems and plays from several distinct points of view. The major aspects and issues of his life and thought are assessed: his American origins and his becoming English; his position as a philosopher; his literary, social, and political criticism; and the evolution of his religious sense. Later chapters place his work in a number of historical perspectives; and the final chapter provides an expert review of the whole field of Eliot studies and is supplemented by a listing of the most significant publications. There is a useful chronological outline. Taken as a whole, the Companion comprises an essential handbook for students and other readers of Eliot. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Kindle edition has problems
This is a very informative book, and it is well written.But, the Kindle edition has format problems.The end marks don't link, it is missing chuncks of words on some locations (one page has about 10% of the words are missing) several letters per word are missing so the page reads like having to solve a puzzle. On a different page the text is overwritten by other text.This is not in the part you get as the sample.I don't know how they will let anyone know the issue has been fixed, but I just wanted to apply an FYI.

Good Guide
While nothing compares to actually reading T.S. Eliot, this book is a good introduction for new readers of T.S. Eliot. I would suggest that you read some of his major works first then read this book. ... Read more

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This audio-cassette features T.S. Eliot reading his own work, including "The Wasteland". In this poem, Eliot expresses his view that the Western city had become a stale and sterile desert. In "The Four Quartets", he describes his wholehearted acceptance of the Christian faith. ... Read more

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On this recording the Nobel Prize-winning poet reads a varied selection of his own work. His eloquent rendition of The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock conveys the frustration of irony of its hapless hero. Also included: Ash Wednesday, A Song for Simeon, Portrait of a Lady, and excerpts from Murder in the Cathedral and The Cocktail Party.

. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

11 critical essays on T.S. Eliot's poem "Murder in the Cathedral"
T.S. Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral is one of over 100 volumes in the Modern Critical Interpretations series, edited and introduced by Harold Bloom and published by Chelsea House. This particular volume features 11 critical essays on T.S. Eliot's poem "Murder in the Cathedral" by 11 leading literary critics with expertise in T.S. Eliot, totaling 132 pages of criticism of this work of poetry. This is the most comprehensive collection of expert literary criticism on "Murder in the Cathedral" available today, however it is out of print so you'll have to buy a used copy from Amazon.com, B&N or Alibris.

Book description from the front and back dust cover flaps:

"The general editor who also wrote an introduction to this book is Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities at Yale University. Widely recognized as one of America's leading literary critics, he is the author of 16 books and the editor of over 30 anthologies of both literature and literary criticism. He earned his B.A. from Cornell University and his Ph.D. in Literature from Yale University and remained on the Yale faculty ever since then. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he won the MacArthur Prize Fellowship in 1985 and the Zabel Award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1981."

"Written for the Canterbury Festival in 1935, T.S. Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral dramatizes the martyrdom of Archbishop Thomas Becket. Set in 1170, the play opens with Thomas's return from a seven-year exile. Already possessing the courage to undergo martyrdom for opposing King Henry II, his dilemma is to purify himself of all self-centered motives for martyrdom, which would make him "do the right deed for the wrong reason." He purifies himself by rejecting his Four Tempters, and defends his obedience 'to the Law of God above the Law of Man' in his Christmas sermon. In the last of the choral odes, the Chorus bears witness to his murder at the hands of the king's knights, a foul act that yet transfigures Thomas [into Saint Thomas]. Murder in the Cathedral's power is both liturgical and dramatic, and poet Stephen Spender judges its choral poetry to be unparalleled in Eliot's work."

Table of Contents:

Editor's Note

Introduction

Murder in the Cathedral: The Theological Scene by Francis Fergusson, Professor Emeritus of Comparative Literature at Princeton University

The Language of Drama by Helen Gardner, Professor of English Literature at Oxford University

The Saint as Tragic Hero: Saint Joan and Murder in the Cathedral by Louis L. Martz, Sterling Professor Emeritus of English at Yale University

The New Rhythm by Carol H. Smith, Professor of English at Douglass College of Rutgers University

Eliot and the Living Theatre by Katharine Worth, Professor of Drama and Theatre Studies at Royal Holloway College in London, England

Fear in the Way: The Design of Eliot's Drama by Michael Goldman,Professor of English at Princeton University

Murder in the Cathedral: The Pain of Purgatory by David Ward, author of "T.S. Eliot: Between Two Worlds"

Poetic Drama by Stephen Spender, Professor of English Literature at University College in London, England

Murder in the Cathedral: the Countersacramental Play of Signs by Michael T. Beehler, Professor of English at the University of Texas in Austin, TX

Murder in the Cathedral: A "Liturgy Less Divine" by robert W. Ayers, Professor of English at Georgetown University

Murder in the Cathedral and the Saint's Play Tradition by Clifford Davidson, Professor of English at Western Michigan University

Chronology [of Eliot's life and works]

Contributors [their background info]

Bibliography

Acknowledgements

Index
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Customer Reviews (2)

Creative
I decided to purchase this book after seeing the video production of Andrew Lloyd Weber's Broadway muscial Cats.I wanted to see how closely they matched, and it was pretty close.It was hard to understand the dialogue on the movie, so I enjoyed seeing it in the book.I think it really brought the book to life having seen the play.The two work well together.Being a literary person first, I have to give the edge to T.S. Eliot.

Feast on imagery and images
Edward Gorey brought this collection of T.S. Eliot's verse to life in a new way.I strongly recommend both this edition and the old illustrated edition with illustrations by Nicholas Bentley.

Gorey brings his wry humour and pathos to bear on poetry that deserves multiple interpretations.Bentley brought a more straight reading to the work, but did a great job nonetheless.

Also, HARD TO FIND but well worth it are the childrens' picture-book versions by Errol Le Cain of Growltiger's Last Stand with The Pekes and the Pollicles and the Song of the Jellicles and Mr Mistoffelees with Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer.These are stunning picture-books that I sought out to own as an adult with no kids and no intention of having any, simply because I loved them. ... Read more

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A member of the Romantic tradition, T.S. Eliot is considered a central figure in Western literary culture. He is said to have created some of the best poetry of the 20th century. Study Eliot with this text, which includes an extensive biography of the author, literary criticism, a list of works by and about the author, and more.

This series is edited by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University; Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Professor of English, New York University Graduate School; preeminent literary critic of our time. The lives of the greatest writers of the world are explored in the new series Bloom’s BioCritiques. In addition to a lengthy biography, each book includes an extensive critical analysis of the writer’s work, as well as critical views by important literary critics throughout history. These volumes are the perfect introduction to critical study of the important authors currently read and discussed in high schools, colleges, and graduate schools. ... Read more

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not geared towards the general reader
Usually I find Bloom's books very helpful in understanding difficult worksand authors.However, in this collection, all the essays are geared towardmore serious scholars of Eliot's works, rather than toward the generalreader looking for more information.Yes, the editor includes somestandard and well known essays about Eliot by the likes of Hugh Kenner,Northrop Frye, Richard Ellmann (Joyce's biographer) and some moderncritics, but there is nothing that holds these essays together.It wouldhave been better to organize the essays around particular works -- instead,we get a brief look at Ash Wednesday, a bit on the Wasteland, some otherrandom poems, you get the idea.Many of these essays are outdated by now. If you are a graduate student writing your thesis on Eliot, these essaysmay be useful, but for the general high school student or adult who justswants some help with understanding Eliot, try a more user-friendly serieslike the Twayne's Masterworks, or Norton Critical Editions. ... Read more

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With the 1920 publication of his first collection of essays, The Sacred Wood, Eliot established himself as an authoritative and influential literary critic. These insightful meditations on poetry, drama, and literary criticism include observations on the works of Dante, Shakespeare, Blake, and other authors. Plus four essays from The Times Literary Supplement.
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April is the cruellest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain. Winter kept us warm, covering Earth in forgetful snow, feeding A little life with dried tubers. ... Read more

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" The vast accumulations of knowledge-or at least of
information-deposited by the nineteenth century have
been responsible for an equally vast ignorance."
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---------------------------------------------------------------- -T.S. Eliot
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Collected in one volume, Eliot’s lectures on metaphysical poetry provide a provocative view of Western intellectual and literary history and an exceptional insight into Eliot’s own intellectual development. “An incomparably stimulating experience in close reading,” said the New York Times. Edited and with an Introduction by Ronald Schuchard. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Only for Eliot Devotees
I can't say very much much about this because I haven't, couldn't, read the whole thing. I'll probably come back to it, God willing.But Eliot himself said of these lectures as to why he didn't want to publish them, that they were "immature and pretentious". This, coming from me, would have sounded quite presumptuous, but from him it's rather admirable, and anyway, it's true. They are both pretentious and immature. As to the question of maturity, many of the same ideas and preoccupations would develop later.But the man who wrote the Four Quartets is still well off in the future and this is because his tangling with metaphysics up to this point had been collegiate: in courses and books. The great poems of the later years derive from the patient endurance of life as it actually is and himself as he actually was. Here in his thirties, he is a brilliant young fellow, aglow with the renown of his early successes: Prufrock and the Waste Land primarily. I only read the first four lectures - there are nine altogether; but the only message I could really discern was: I am a very clever, well-read poet with a hint of religious solemnity.
Anyway, let them, the lectures, serve as a reflection to everyone who is or was exceedingly clever that they may blush and take heart remembering that this was the man who later wrote The Four Quartets. ... Read more

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T. S. Eliot's reformulation of the idea of literary tradition has been one of the key critical concepts of the twentieth century. In this reappraisal of tradition, an international team of scholars explores the concept from a variety of theoretical and historical perspectives, including a series of illuminating case studies evaluating Eliot's version of tradition alongside the theories of other major twentieth-century critics. This volume will be of great interest to students of literary theory, modernist studies and intellectual history, initiating a dialogue between Continental and Anglo-American investigations into the nature of literary traditions. Tradition is a concept often viewed by contemporary critics with misunderstanding or even hostility. This book powerfully reaffirms the continuing importance of our artistic and cultural traditions in shaping the past and creating the future. ... Read more