Meditating on Four Quartets

by John E. Booty

A republishing of John Booty's classic, this spare yet profound book explores T. S. Eliot's "Four Quartets," emphasizing the spiritual nature of the poems as a way to gain a deeper understanding of the great symbolism, mystery, and beauty inherent.

Armed with a rare spiritual depth and vast knowledge, Booty finds just the right keys to unlock the mysteries of Eliot's timeless words. An incomparable poet, matched by an incomparable contemplative.

126 pages, Hardcover

First published December 12, 1988

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very helpful in deciphering some context and meanings in the poems, as well as overall themes. However, sometimes I found his commentary more difficult to wade through than the poems themselves. I would have enjoyed more simplicity in some of his descriptions.

[Harry Allagree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though somewhat dated, this was a refreshing introduction for me to the poetry of T. S. Eliot. I'd read the Four Quartets some time ago, but except for the oft-quoted & quite inspiring usual snippets, had no understanding of the context in which Eliot wrote them, nor what Eliot was really trying to convey. It's important to note, as the author does towards the end that "The unity of these poems has been viewed in diverse ways by diverse people…All interpretations are helpful and tend to emphasize the richness of the poems."

John Booty emphasizes the "lyrical fourth movement" of each of the quartets, convinced that they "represent the key and the heart of the entire sequence." He says that Eliot wrote these as "a practicing churchman", influenced by great 17th century Anglican divines as Lancelot Andrewes, Richard Hooker, John Donne and George Herbert, all people whose work I personally greatly admire, therefore explaining why I'm drawn to T. S. Eliot's poetry. Booty sums it up thus, & though many will not agree with his analysis, nevertheless I believe it merits consideration at least: "The main point is that there is a reality, that this reality is personal, that it is love as revealed in Jesus Christ. We only dimly perceive this reality and are often led astray into illusions, but we keep struggling in the knowledge that the key to the struggle lies in the waiting. Through the waiting, refraining from imposing false patterns of our own devising, we become available, open to receive the pattern offered to us…"

[Sharon]

I have grown into the habit of starting each new year by reading or rereading a classic of Christian poetry. This year I reread Eliot's Four Quartets, and used this little book by John Booty that I picked up in the clearance section of a used book store. Booty's guide to the poem helped enormously in understanding Eliot's complex thought. It is organized in small sections to match the poem, and lends itself well to devotional practice.

So this year, when I could, I took the two books with me to a coffee shop after dropping the kids at school and I spent an hour in the quiet reading the poem and mulling with Booty's assistance. It is now May and I've just finished. It has been so rewarding that I will keep the book on my shelves to use again another year.

[Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

John Booty wrote his Meditating on Four Quartet in order to highlight the Anglican spirituality of T. S. Eliot's poetic masterpiece. However, I found the book no different in the end than most coverage of Four Quartets, and did not give me any additional insight on the work.

Booty's work is relatively short, more essay than book. It is divided into four sections, each on one of the Quartets. He goes through each portion of the poem summarizing it, and I find that too often he attempts to explain to the reader something he already understands. The book's real failing is that while Booty intended to over a truly religious reading of the poem. his analysis does not differ much from secular criticism of the poem.

One of the few redeeming qualities of Booty's work is that it does attempt to place Four Quartets in the context of Anglican poetry in general, and quotations from John Donne and Henry Vaughan among others shows how Eliot's work compares. Still, I don't think that is enough. I would not recommend Meditating on Four Quartets, though I would recommend Four Quartets, and a very attentive reading of it, over nearly any other work of literature. Stick to the original poem and perhaps some more substantial critical works.

[Laurel Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another exquisite commentary on T. S. Eliot's "Four Quartets." I think this is the best one I've read yet.