The Wasteland

by Harper Jameson, W.A.W. Parker

The extraordinary career and devastating life of T.S. Eliot.

T.S. Eliot is a hollow man trapped in a dreary world. He works at a bank, a slave to the clock, the same routine, day after day. While London’s elite enjoy a Great Gatsby lifestyle and poets like Robert Frost are rock stars, attracting thousands of fans to each reading, Mr. Eliot walks past life, peering at it through cracks or around corners. Only in his imagination does the world drip with color.

Then one day he comes across Jack, an out and proud gay man being badly beaten, and something compels him to intervene. Life will never be the same. 

Jack introduces Mr. Eliot to the gay underground of early twentieth-century London and to feelings Mr. Eliot had crammed down and locked away. And with freedom comes poetry. Extraordinary poetry that takes London by storm. But as Mr. Eliot’s fame increases, pressure for conformity does as well. Religious intolerance, fascism’s increasingly popular message of traditional values, and the allure of untold success present him with a decision that could have devastating consequences.

The Wasteland is the untold story of T.S. Eliot, his secret struggle with being gay, the people left in the wake of his meteoric career trajectory, and the madness that helped produce his greatest work.


"Wow! This is an amazing book...wholly original. Briskly paced, page-turning action." - Screencraft


Fans of T.S. Eliot and Moonlight will love this highly recommended book. (Screencraft)

Genres: Gay, Novels, American, 21st Century, Historical Fiction, Fiction

280 pages, Paperback

Published January 5, 2021

Reviews

[Richard Derus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real Rating: 3.75* of five, rounded up for its verve

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Sadness. Grey, enveloping sadness. That's the take-away I had from this technically adept reinvention of poet T.S Eliot's early-1920s life in London.

Even if there were no light on the bank, Mr. Eliot would still know it was there. It's always there, waiting to welcome him with open arms, more than willing to take more tocks from his clock.
–and–
"We return you now to our regular broadcast," the announcer drones.

"Clair de Lune." Claude Debussy. Relaxation. Baloney.

Baloney indeed, and more than just that in a penitential dry sandwich consumed in a lonely penitentiary. With the aplomb of a dab hand at this fantastical-reimaging stuff, Eliot's life is peopled with the souls embodied and conjured on a magical-realist visit with the great poet. We even see him conjuring Mr. J. Alfred Prufrock (whose peaches are uneaten and coffee spoons resolutely empty) on the day he learns his new crush, Jack, is no longer with the bank. But Mr. Eliot is in for a major surprise in this case....

...as are the readers of this historical fantasia on themes of gay men's circumscribed lives. Mr. Eliot, for I cannot bear to call him Tom, is a creative and passionate soul in the body of a Puritan. He is deformed and damaged by a world he despises as he obeys it. Mr. Eliot will get his revenge. He blares forth a trumpet of poetic passion that has stood its ground atop English-language poetry. Its creator is given, here, by Author Jameson, a life that commingles reality and fantasy as only a poet could merit, warrant, summon forth from beyond the grave's creative silence.

[Darya Silman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fictitious version of T.S.Eliot's life: emotionally and linguistically charged narrative.

The Wasteland or The Waste Land? The poet T.S.Eliot (or Tom) of 'The Wasteland' discusses this question with his alter-ego at the end of the book. But the main question is, what is the Waste(Land). Harper H. Jameson portrays London of serious well-heeled men and their good-intentioned women, with monotonous workdays and meaningless evenings of loneliness. The only bright side of such existence is poetry. It's hard to beget poetry, though. It demands sunsets, dedication, time alone, and a suitable writing desk. Poetry could be nurtured by love, both its physical and mental manifestations - but what if this love is inappropriate? illegal? suppressed? What if there is a contradiction: the poet needs love for writing poetry, but if he loves, he needs to sacrifice his feelings to become famous, to be able to produce more poetry? There is no escape from the Waste(Land)'s vicious cycle.

In the book, Harper H. Jameson masterfully ties together historical figures such as Vivienne High-Wood and Bertrand Russell with fictional Jack and homosexuality. Thus, the book has a huge downside of being realistic. While it sounds paradoxical - to consider the realism of a historical fiction book as a disadvantage - the problem with this particular book is precisely that: a reader with no previous knowledge of the topic may find himself/herself confused. A glance at Wikipedia reveals that T.S.Eliot, due to the first unhappy marriage, was asexual, but that didn't imply he was gay. To avoid confusion, it would be helpful to specify the main idea somewhere in the blurb or at the beginning of the book.

Overall, the book is one hundred percent worth reading, at least for the pleasure of devouring the story's beautiful language and scenery. If you are searching for inspiration/imagination/perspiration... No, the last word doesn't match here. Let's start again. If you are lost in words and need the illumination, 'The Wasteland' would be a perfect choice - unless you have something against alternative biographies.

I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book – but a word of warning - you really do need at least a basic knowledge of T S Eliot’s life and work, and preferably at least some acquaintance with the people he knew and in whose circles he moved, otherwise I fear a lot of the book will simply pass you by. But if you do know something of his poetry and milieu, then this original and unusual book will almost certainly prove to be a great joy. It’s a fresh examination of Eliot’s often conflicted inner world as he struggled with his writing, his friends, his sexuality and his place in the world, his ever-present angst about finding his true voice and his true being. His most famous work is not called The Wasteland for nothing and here we see how his inner world is as much a wasteland as is the era of the Roaring Twenties in which he lived. I loved the style, with its mix of prose and poetry, often rhyming, and the rich imagery taken from his poems. The book is a vivid recreation of Eliot and his times, a fictionalised biography that seemed to me to express a reality that has not often been explored. It could be that Eliot purists will jib at the exposure of Eliot as gay, but I found this side of him fascinating indeed. I raced through the book, finding the writing compelling and entertaining, and feel that I have gained yet more insight into this most enigmatic of poets.

[Jennie · Rating 1 out of 5]

So I have never read anything by T.S. Eliot nor do I know anything about him so maybe this was not the book for me. Now I am assuming that some knowledge of his poems would assist with understanding some of the fictional/supernatural characters in the story. (If not then the structure just did not work for me.) Which makes me feel like I cannot truly evaluate this book. One of the issues with telling fictionalized stories of real, famous people's lives is that the reader spends so much time wondering how much is true. This book is definitely one of those types of books.
Here is the basic premise of the book.
The Wasteland is a fictionalized telling of Eliot's entry into fame and acceptance by English poetry society. Eliot meet a man at the bank that he works at and despite his subconscious trying to keep him away, Eliot begins a relationship with this man. Now this is not accepted so Eliot marries the waitress at a coffee house but it is not a happy one.
If you like fantastical elements or really know about T.S. Eliot then maybe you might enjoy this book but I feel like it would have worked better if it was not specifically about Eliot but instead just a truly fictional story.

[Tissie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my God, this book. This book.

Listen, I’ll give you the long version in about a moment here, but hear me out: all this could be condensed in a tiny little statement, 'drop everything you’re doing and start flipping pages right now.'

…Yes, it’s that good.

“The Wasteland is the untold story of T.S. Eliot, his secret struggle with being gay, the people left in the wake of his meteoric career trajectory, and the madness that helped produce his greatest work."

LGBT, historical and fictionalized biography? All my boxes checked at once.

[Keep reading @ Bookshelves & Teacups]


[I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.]

[Mary Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in lyrical and mesmerizing prose, a newly published novel about T. S. Eliot includes powerful images and poignant revelations about his struggle to find his place in the world—as a man and a writer—and with his god.

By the end of page two of The Waste Land by W. A. W. Parker, writing as Harper H. Jameson, makes it clear that this book will reveal Eliot in words and techniques much like his own. “… the world has already roared” and images of the Thames River, Big Ben, the Victoria Tower, and the House of Parliament have been presented and demeaned. Big Ben is “the ticking, tocking time bomb that adorns the remains of civilization, wearing the city’s sins like a crown of thorns” (1).

Thomas Sterns Eliot has “joined the woeful throngs in England,” unable to “bear the weight of American ignorance” (2).

Eliot works in the Bank of London, “not a teller who works in the grand lobby” … No. He works in the basement, grinding away at an adding machine like all the others cogs” (4).

He lives in an apartment across the street, projects an image much different from his self-talk, and is a regular evening patron at a coffee house where volunteers read poetry. Eliot has written “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” but at the beginning of the novel, it is in his notes. The poem has not been published.

One of Eliot’s neighbors who also goes to the coffee house is Bertrand Russell, philosopher, writer, social critic, etc. Another regular at the coffee house is W. H. Auden a contemporary poet who is openly gay. All three win Pulitzer Prizes, Auden and Eliot for poetry; Russell, literature. Hemingway is there sometimes, and Russell introduces Eliot to Ezra Pound who quickly recognizes Eliot’s talent.

Eliot has two loves in this novel, his writing and Jack, an openly gay man who was briefly Eliot’s co-worker. Jack returns Eliot’s love and tolerates many rejections. Vivienne, a barista at the coffee house, is Jack’s rival, not because Eliot cares about her, but because he accidentally learns that when he is with her, “well-heeled men” notice him, and although he seems to truly love Jack, he keeps choosing Vivienne, even to the point of marrying her. This serves him well because the British Poetry Society does not tolerate homosexuals.

“Ezra’s explanation of their character had been correct. Yes, they were asses, but influential asses, nonetheless. Mr. Eliot took his first whiff of them, and he liked the smell. Is it a scent he can purchase? Can it be woven into his clothing?

“But the sweet smell of success is often confused with another stench.

“It’s the same smell that men wore in the trench” (122).

“Mr. Eliot’s life was a slur, and now, it’s a blur” (122).

The fluctuation of Eliot’s confidence and poise is poignant; the allusions to characters in his poetry obscure. Disillusionment is dominant. Eliot’s poetry always made me feel a need to consult others, to identify references and make sense of the flow of ideas and images. The Waste Land has the same effect. It’s definitely a book for me to read more than once.

[Ronin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to start by saying that some reviews have stated that they may not have understood the book because they’re not familiar with T.S. Eliot’s work. If you need to have read his work to appreciate this book, then the book has failed at appealing to any but a VERY niche audience.

That said, I have read T.S. Eliot poetry. I’m not an Eliot scholar but I have read some of his work. I even went back to read some more of it to make sure there wasn’t something I was missing because I was excited by the premise of this book and very disappointed by the execution.

The book reads like someone had a clever idea and then felt the need to remind the reader how clever they were being. Eliot’s poetic style isn’t woven into the narrative so much as it is shoved in where it doesn’t fit. The author makes a point, more like takes a stance, that poetry doesn’t have to rhyme (agreed) and then seems to almost only use rhyme to indicate poetic writing. The rhyming is superficial and occurs so often that it is exhausting and takes you out of the convoluted story.

The tone is mildly consistent except for a few spots where the author wildly strays. It is jarring and rather than enhance the moment, just makes you question whether this was missed by an editor or if the author just wanted to punch his way out of the story for a moment.

There were moments I enjoyed, though few and far between. The character of Jack is interesting and perhaps the one character a reader will root for, unfortunately we barely get to know him.

****SPOILERS AHEAD****

I really like the idea that Elliot’s characters are being used in his psyche, as a way to drive him or restrain him. I like how Prufrock talks to Rev Hammond on pages 194-195, and how he actively used characters to drive Eliot in certain directions. But this was used so sporadically and was ultimately (and unsurprisingly) poorly executed.

There are a few small intimate moments between Jack and Eliot that many queer folks may relate to, myself included. I like the playful closetedness. Rubbing feet (and crotches) under the dinner table, tossing the apple back and forth while riding bikes. How easily the lines can blur or be mistaken between male-to-male friendship, homosexual love, homoeroticism, etc. It is interesting to explore how, at times, male-to-male intimacy was accepted as long as it wasn’t overtly romantic or sexual. This wasn’t explored in this book, it was barely hinted at but hinted at enough that I noticed and took some notes on it.

Lastly, despite an epilogue acknowledging how aspects of Eliot’s history were changed (names, places, order of events), I don’t understand what was accomplished by these choices.

As I mentioned before, it feels like a clever idea that was drawn out, heavy handed, and not executed with any real tact.

[Justice Simanek]

Did not finish at 46%. Thank you to the author for the e-book but this just isn’t for me.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a complicated relationship with T. S. Eliot. During difficult times over the years, I'd often seek out his 1915 poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." I'd listen to readings of it (by anyone except Eliot himself, whose voice was shockingly dull), read it aloud to myself, keep a tab of the poem open at all times, just in case. I attempted to memorize it a few times and had one year when I came pretty close. One of my most vivid memories is of drunkenly stumbling down the streets of my town at 3 in the morning on my 25th birthday, listening to Anthony Hopkins's reading of the poem on my phone and uncontrollably sobbing (it was not a good day; it was not a good year).

Before I dropped out of undergrad, I had a final project where I chose to simply read "Prufrock" to the class in lieu of writing a paper, and I got an A for it. When I returned to school five years later, it was while researching Eliot for a paper on "Prufrock" that I stumbled on an old dissertation containing a definition of fascism that led me to research the protofascisms of the early 20th century, which has informed much of my academic, political, and personal trajectories since. It would not be an exaggeration to say that T. S. Eliot is why I have two degrees and work at a library.

The thing about Eliot is that he was, respectfully, a piece of shit. Hate that guy. His essays and personal writings reveal him to be obsessed with tradition and highly judgmental of the masses, who he judged to be his intellectual inferiors and not even really full individuals in the same way that he and his intellectual peers were. He might not have literally been a fascist, but his own views jived pretty well with those of fascists. Also, while his art spoke to me on a very personal level, he was pretty against the idea of viewing art through that lens. He was a major proponent of the New Criticism movement, and believed art should be impersonal, removed from the emotions of its creator and reader, viewed as a reflection and refraction of the art that came before it.

When you look at his personal letters around the time he wrote "Prufrock," though, it becomes clear that with his first poem, he certainly hadn't practiced what he would eventually preach. Prufrock's uncertainty and paralyzing dual fears of doing nothing and doing the wrong thing reflect his own thoughts and fears as he was writing it. Which is obviously unsurprising; that's...uh...how art works.

Which brings us to Harper Jameson's and W. A. W. Parker's 2021 novel, The Wasteland. I stumbled on it while looking for novels about poets for a Poetry Month display, and I immediately knew I had to read it. The premise was, as I understood it, what if Eliot was so shitty because he was closeted? That's a premise that was both intriguing and a bit alarming. I'm not a huge fan of the old trope that anti-queer people are just repressed queers themselves, for a number of reasons. That said, there is undeniably a contradiction at the heart of T. S. Eliot; his art alone is already proof of his hypocrisy, and at least tying that into his masculinity, sexuality, and cruelty toward his wife - who he had institutionalized for "hysteria" - is an interesting angle.

This novel isn't quite that, though. It may best be described as a romance novel that is also a work of literary criticism on Eliot's work. The novel is very self-aware about the fact that Eliot probably wasn't actually gay, and it uses him as a character and an author surrogate specifically as a rebellion against Eliot's New Criticism. The novel's relationship to Eliot is fairly similar to my own, being both enamored with his art and dismissive of his opinions on how one should engage with that art. In fact, the novel purposely refuses even to respect the historical realities of much of Eliot's life, changing many details simply because it can, while simultaneously demonstrating an intimate understanding of Eliot's life and work.

The writing style mimics Eliot's own writing style, often incorporating brief snippets from his poems in its own prose, making almost every paragraph feel like an allusion. It's a staggering feat that serves to make this Eliot feel authentically like Eliot even as the point of the novel is that he's not actually Eliot. It supersedes Eliot, implying that if the real figure refuses the vulnerability necessary to take responsibility for his work, then that work might as well go to this interloper who's willing to be vulnerable and willing to present a cogent and believable narrative to why the art elicits the emotions that it does.

Tom Eliot is a young American working as a banker in London, hoping to one day become a famous poet. On the nights when he doesn't go straight back to his apartment after work, he goes to poetry readings at a cafe and tries to work up the courage to read his work to the crowd. As he encounters and quickly falls in love with a coworker, Jack, his poetry is discovered by Ezra Pound. To be accepted into the Royal Society of Literature, Tom must demonstrate his decency and normalcy, which drives him to reject Jack and into an unhappy marriage with a waitress, Vivienne. Over the course of these events, Tom writes the many scraps of poetry that he eventually combines into his most famous poem, "The Waste Land."

This turns "The Waste Land" on its head. It wouldn't be inaccurate to call the entire novel a very long queer reading of "The Waste Land," creating a context in which the poem could be about a gay romance and subsequent repression, and then arguing passionately that just because this context isn't true, that doesn't make the poem not about those things. It's a reversal of Eliot's view of art as existing contextually backward through previous works, instead forcing "The Waste Land" to exist contextually forward through this new work. I've never really enjoyed "The Waste Land" that much, but by recontextualizing it, The Wasteland has brought me to a new appreciation for several passages of "The Waste Land," providing me with an emotional throughline where the poem had originally resisted that. It's a queering both in that it makes the poem about being gay and in that it turns an old paradigm on its head. It's hard not to be awestruck by that.

That said, I'm not sure most readers will appreciate The Wasteland. It relies very heavily on a familiarity with Eliot's work and history, to the point that I felt lost a few times because it was referencing a poem or essay I hadn't read. Its characters are mostly shitty because they're all modernists, who were mostly shitty, which makes it hard to find anything to grasp onto at times. I also feel a little secondhand guilt at the way this novel treats Vivienne Eliot, who was a tragic figure both in the novel and in real life, but is vapid and unlikeable in the novel in a way that feels cruel in a book about the fact that it is purposely fictionalizing real people. That said, the tragic romance between Tom and Jack is beautiful and well-realized, and I definitely teared up at a few points throughout their story. It feels like it was written specifically for someone like me, and I don't know that all that many readers are like me.

Still, it's an artistic achievement and worth giving a shot anyway, just to see how Jameson and Parker pull off something this impossible. It's added a new dimension to my conception of Eliot's poetry, which I definitely didn't expect going in.

[Ghislaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been intrigued by TS Eliot for a long time. Particularly why and how he came to be so famous. This was not the right book for me. The book was mainly about his mariage and a lot about his sexuality. The sex scenes went on and on and on as was his love for Jack. Repetitive, an hair from boring. I like the presence in the book of other famous authors like Bertrand Russel, Ezra Pound and others involved in Eliot’s life. More should have been said about their relationship to Tom.

[Tina Baxter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry just could not deal with this book. Having studied The Waste Land, talk and do walks on the subject there was something that just did not sit right with me. T S Eliot was never confirmed as b eing gay and I am worried that people will take this fiction as the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

The book is good at weaving in and out of Eliot's works and using the 'City'.

I will probably try again at some point,

[Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit of humor. Reminded me of the wit in The Boston Castrato by Colin W. Sargent. And this one rhymes!

[Val Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Wasteland,’ By Harper Jameson, With W.A.W. Parker
A Review by Val Francis
www.valfrancisfiction.com.au

Occasionally I’ll encounter a book on the fringes of the Gay Romance genre that I’m used to reading and reviewing. ‘The Waste Land, by Harper Jameson, is one such novel, and I’m so glad that I did happen upon it.
It’s a love story about two men, Thomas Stearns Eliot, T.S. Eliot, and another man, Jack. Tom Eliot works in a bank, an institution representing the rigid conservatism of England between the world wars. Tom writes poetry, but if he seriously wants to succeed as a poet, he will need to be accepted by the British Poetry Society. This institution wields power to control not only success but failure as well.
But nothing about Tom is straightforward. On the one hand, he has his Anglican faith preaching its message, constantly reminding him about God and how a man ought to be. Then there’s Jack, who he helps when he discovers him after Jack’s been beaten up by a group of thugs. Jack is gay, and he refuses to allow society to make him ashamed of his nature. Soon the two men begin an affair, and Tom is torn between Jack and the man he knows he should be for his religion and the sake of his poetry.
Watching in the wings is Vivien, who unashamedly throws herself at Tom. She is oblivious to Jack or anyone standing in the way of getting what she wants. She’s convinced that Tom needs her for his career as a poet, and her delusion causes her to think that he wants her.
The Wasteland is set against a backdrop of the Age of Jazz, The Bright Young Things (The equivalent of today’s Cult of Celebrity), and society’s insatiable appetite for poetry. This account of Thomas Stearns Eliot’s early adult life has a lot going for it. Harper Jameson’s skill as a writer is beyond doubt. However, it is his skill as a storyteller where he really excels. I found myself enjoying the book so much that I’ve placed a forward order for his next book.
This is to declare that Val Francis reviewed an ARC of ‘The Wasteland’. No payment of any kind was received for this review. 14/01/2022

[Lala (Daily Dose of Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I even start with the review, I want to say some words about the print version because I received a paperback as an ARC. Right off the bat, I was impressed with the quality of the print copy. It is a tall paperback, and the cover has a glossy finish. The colours are vibrant, and the cover is quite sturdy. The pages have a nice silky feel to them, and they are not at all reflective! The pages are glued well to the spine, and it was an overall blast to hold!
Now that's settled, let's talk about the contents of the book. When I started this book, I didn't know much about T.S Eliot, but at the end of it, I was pleasantly surprised by the whole story!

Inspiration. All he needs is a little inspiration. If only there were a sunset. Sunsets are inspiring. Or at least they used to be. But now there's only darkness outside. Only dark, where anything can hide.

Let's break the ice with the pacing and the plot as a whole. Knowing that this is a fiction book written after the life of T.S. Eliot, I didn't expect much in terms of action, but I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised. The whole book was quite great, and the pacing was just right. The only thing you should be aware while reading is that you cannot keep up with the characters and the action on itself if you are tired. The Wasteland requires quite a lot of concentration that you may not be able to achieve if you are tired.

FULL REVIEW AND A MOODBOARD ON DAILY DOSE OF BOOKS: https://dailydoseofbooks.com/2021/02/...

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Artists suffer for their art.

The Waste Land takes the reader into the counterculture to which homosexuals were relegated in Jazz Age London. The authors do an excellent job of exploring the tortured existence of poet T. S. Eliot as he struggles to fit in society and achieve his potential as an artist at a time when poets were lauded by high society, even as his private life was condemned. Powerful imagery and characters keep the story moving forward even as Tom Eliot devolves into the fantasy world where his literary characters come to life. Great read for those interested in the Modernist movement and the history of homosexual persecution.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dry and cheeky :) I could have done with fewer rhymes, otherwise I really enjoyed it.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full 5 out of 5 stars.

Absolutely loved the use of language throughout this. It felt fresh and unique and also spot on for the context of the story.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute must read if you have an interest in poetry and the world of the early twentieth century.

We follow Mr Elliot as he tackles the ever changing artistic world around him and the struggles he fights in his own mind.

The writing style of Harper Jamerson is absolutely exquisite. Not only is it, in my opinion, a poetic/prose masterpiece it also has you fully immersed into the way Mr Elliot sees the world.

I recommend researching a bit about T.S. Elliot and reading some of his works before diving into this book so that references make sense. However, prior research is not necessary to enjoy this wonderful written work.

[Patricia Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different. TS Elliott's life but not quite, admittedly. I learned things about him and his poems, and I was often fascinated by his life and by the style of this book, prose but rhyme worked in. I like different, and this fit the bill.

[Remains · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like a disclaimer is in order before I review this: I'm sad to say that I have never read any work by the actual T.S. Eliot, and know nothing of him. With that being said...
Starting this book, I felt like I was in a dream. The pace and the writing style was really something else, and outstanding. At times - when the mc Mr. Eliot interacted with (what I now understand to be) his own written characters - I felt like I was in a surrealist painting where everything around me had such a strange feeling to it but looked so real even though I knew it couldnt be? At other times I felt like I was on stage in a slam poetry contest running out of breath reading poetry in this format. The writing was what stood out to me about this novel, I cant really recall the last time I read something and was in awe over how cool and beautiful the text was constructed. I would recommend you to read this for the sake of experiencing the writing, if nothing else.
And the plot was interesting nontheless, about a closeted poet living a mundane and grey life, getting accidently into a miserable marriage for the sake of being accepted by the masses and becoming a celebrated poet. The book finishes off with a discussion between the mc and author, about the historical (in)accuracy of the events. Another level of author and character interaction. Meta.

[Old-Fashioned Agnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel was set in London in the first half of the 20th c. The main character was Thomas Stearns Eliot who worked at a bank. Besides working there, he was also a writer. In the bank he met Jack and they fell in love with each other. Jack encouraged Thomas to show his poetry to other people. Eliot read his poem before audience and gained applause.

One of his listeners was cafe worker, Vivienne, who imagined that Eliot’s poem was dedicated to her. She wooed Thomas and married him. She didn’t know that he was still in relationship with Jack. This relationship, however, was disapproved by other poets. Thomas hoped that this marriage may help him in his poetic career.

The novel was very interesting, the last chapters particularly. Thomas Eliot wanted to be in a love relationship with Jack as well as to develop his literary career. However, he couldn’t have both these things. Vivienne, after discovering their affair, fell into madness.

In the story fantasy was mixed with reality. The fantastic scenes represented Thomas Eliot’s poetic works. He often conversed with characters from his poems.

I rate this book 4/5 and recommend it to those who like historical fiction and/ or are interested in poetry of Thomas Stearns Eliot. I personally wasn’t interested in his poetry, but, after reading this book, I’m encouraged to read some of his poems.

[librarylovestory · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a brilliantly-written and poetic piece of work!
"The Wasteland" is the melancholic fictionalised story of emerging poet T. S. Eliot, an American gentleman who moved to rainy London following the Great War to make a name for himself and his art within the ruthless world of 'well-heeled' upper-class men.

Despite emotive words and incredible story-telling talent that captures the souls of his audience, all is not well in the troubled mind of Mr Eliot. Yes, Mr Eliot has a secret, an identity, that he must hide at all cost: his homosexuality. The world is cruel and injust and it makes no room for men like Mr Eliot.

Nothing screams 'dark academia' as much as historical fiction, poetry, rain, and early twentieth century London. This is a wonderful book to curl up with a warm blanket, fire, and cup of tea! I recommend this book to anyone interested in reading a work that will take you outside your comfort zone. This was definitely a new genre of book for me: where sometimes you found yourself in the protagonist's dream, rather than in his reality. While I should perhaps have read a bit more about the life of T. S. Eliot prior to reading this book, it certainly did not disappoint and is beautifully and artfully written.

*gifted copy by author

[Eva Silverfine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whether being more familiar with T.S. Elliot’s work and life would have improved my reading experience of this novel, I am not certain; regardless, I found the novel engaging and imaginative. I was confused a bit about whom the narrator was, particularly because at points in the novel Mr. Elliot/Tom addresses the narrator. Later, the reader learns the narrator is Mr. Prufrock, the subject of one of Elliot’s earlier works. Upon a little post-novel research, it became clear that the T.S. Elliot of the novel has much in common with Mr. Prufrock of "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," with some details of Elliot’s own life thrown in. The novel is essentially a fictionalized biography of a literary figure that shows him in a less than a positive light, yet not without sympathy.

[RaChelle Holmberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received from an ARC program that I belong to, this was both heavy and light reading at the same time. I felt quite deeply for poor Eliot, who was struggling to find his way, the book is full of wild and colorful characters that he was finally able to connect with. It was an interesting, but involved, read.

[Julie Butcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

"These fragments I have shored against my ruins."
~ T.S. Eliot, The Waste Land & Other Poems

This is a wild, wild poetic ride. If you're an Eliot fan (especially if you know why he used the middle initial), read this book. If you've always wondered about dear Tom, read this book!

Thanks to the generous folks at Hidden Gems for an advanced copy to devour. Tick Tock. Tick tock.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised by the romance, but it wasn't the book for me. I found myself wandering off while reading it. It's okay but I have read much better similar novels which develop characters better and offer perhaps more literary prose. I enjoyed it, interesting premise, 3 stars.