The Waste Land and Other Poems (Penguin Twentieth Century Classics)

Both a poetic diagnosis on an ailing civilization and a desperate quest for spiritual renewal, Eliot's "The Waste Land" unfolds as a nightmarish, kaleidoscopic landscape of sexual disorder and spiritual desolation, inhabited by the voices of an unconscious that is by turns deeply personal and culturally collective. This volume includes Eliot's masterpiece plus all of the poems in his first three collections of verse.

After sitting through T.S. Eliot's reading of "The Waste Land," listeners may be inclined to hang up the earphones for a spell. There are no flaws to Eliot's steady-toned interpretation; in fact, his delivery is quite remarkable in its ability to match the poem's constant, somber mood. It's just that 25-plus minutes of Eliot's desolate landscapes--rendered even more real by the author's incessant tones--can wear on the emotions.

In addition to the full-length version of "The Waste Land," this recording includes Eliot's stirring narration of "The Hollow Men," "Sweeney Among the Nightingales," and "Macavity the Mystery Cat." Listen to Eliot read from "The Waste Land." Visit our audio help page for more information. (Running time: 47 minutes, 1 cassette) --Rob McDonald