The Achievement of T. S. Eliot: An Essay on the Nature of Poetry

by F.O. Matthiessen

This book by one of America's foremost critics, originally published in 1935, is regarded as the most important critical work on T. S. Eliot. In the last twelve years Mr. Eliot has produced much new work which was not discussed in the first edition. Hence this new edition is enlarged by the inclusion of two chapters that deal with Eliot's chief work of the past decade, the Quartets and the Plays.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1935

Reviews

[Jacky Chan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Professor Seamus Perry, in his guide to The Waste Land, hailed Matthiessen's study of Eliot as an excellent work, so I ventured to purchase it new despite at a rather high price. It was a disappointment: some of Matthiessen's theoretical conjectures are interesting at best, but many of them are rather bland and dull. His close-readings are in particular superficial and really show New Criticism at its worst. If there is any value in this book its that it elucidates Eliot's criticism quite well. Not a good read.

[Johns · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the gold standard analysis of the famed poet's work when written in 1935 and updated (by the author) several times. My HARDBOUND copy which I obtained from a local university library is the version made available by the Oxford University Press in 1958.

Good analysis here. Any serious scholar or researcher intent on knowing T. S. Eliot will need to be conversant on F. O. Matthiessen's effort here.

I learned a lot; you will too: read this book.

('Tis frustrating that there appears to be no way to message this site as to the author's name!)

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthiessen lays the foundations for Eliot studies with his revolutionary examination of Eliot's poetry. Originally published before the publication of the plays or the Quartets, the second edition includes chapters covering both.