T. S. Eliot

American-British poet, playwright, and literary critic (1888–1965)

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About

Thomas Stearns Eliot, born in St. Louis, Missouri, and died in London, is a major figure of modernism in poetry. After studying at Harvard, he settled in England in 1914 and became a British citizen in 1927. His poem 'The Waste Land' (1922) expresses post-war disillusionment and established his international reputation. Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948, he is also known for his plays, including 'Murder in the Cathedral', and for his influential critical essays. His conversion to Anglo-Catholicism deeply marked his later work, notably 'Four Quartets'.

* 1888-09-26 — † 1965-01-04

Major works

  • The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock (1915)poem
  • The Waste Land (1922)poem
  • Murder in the Cathedral (1935)play
  • Four Quartets (1943)poem
  • Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats (1939)poetry collection

Key milestones

  • 1922Publication of 'The Waste Land', establishing his international reputation.
  • 1927Becomes a British citizen and converts to Anglo-Catholicism.
  • 1948Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Themes

Modern disillusionmentSpirituality and faithTime and memoryTradition and innovationIdentity and alienation

Sources: nobelprize.org · britannica.com · poetryfoundation.org