The last major verse written by Nobel laureate T. S. Eliot, considered by Eliot himself to be his finest work Four Quartets is a rich composition that expands the spiritual vision introduced in “The Waste Land.” Here, in four linked poems (“Burnt Norton,” “East Coker,” “The Dry Salvages,” and “Little Gidding”), spiritual, philosophical, and personal themes emerge through symbolic allusions and literary and religious references from both Eastern and Western thought. It is the culminating achievement by a man considered the greatest poet of the twentieth century and one of the seminal figures in the evolution of modernism.

Eliot’s Four Quartets is arguably the finest long poem in modern English literature. It is also one that presents considerable problems of interpretation. In Word Unheard, first published in 1969, Blamires aims to unravel some of these problems by guiding the reader line by line through the poem, blending paraphrase with commentary. Blamires pays particular attention to the philosophical and theological dimensions of the poem and to its multifarious personal, historical and literary allusions. This title will be of interests to students of literature.

This book of annotations to Four Quartets provides unparalleled, page by page insights into the thoughts and background material behind the poem. It will be a unique asset for any reader who wants help in navigating the extraordinary complexities of T.S. Eliots final masterpiece. Carol Simpson Stern, Professor, Department of Performance Studies and Poetry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois

"The poems, . . . some of the poetic drama (particularly Sweeney Agonistes), and relevant sections of prose criticism, are discussed in detail and placed in relation to the development of Eliot's oeuvre, and more briefly to his life and a wider context of philosophical and religious enquiry" --Introduction.

T.S. Eliot is widely considered the most important and most influential poet of the 20th century. Many consider Four Quartets to be the finest of his poems and his greatest achievement. In this masterful journey into the beauties and depths of Eliot's masterpiece, the bestselling author, professor and critic Thomas Howard unravels the complexities of the sublime poem with such adept adroitness that even its most difficult passages spring to life. During his long years as a professor teaching English and Literature, Howard taught this poem often, and developed what he calls "a reading" approach to the concepts of this masterpiee to render its meaning more lucid for the reader. Therefore, this is not a "scholarly" work, but rather the brilliant insights of a master teacher and writer whose understanding of this profound poem and his deep love for the writing of Eliot are shared here for the great benefit of the reader.

Explores T.S. Eliot's last major poem, Four Quartets, and examines the poem's potential to create a dynamic interaction between the poem and reader that promotes a genuine connection with the natural world, with others, and with the Divine.