Collected Poems 1909-1962 - T.S. Eliot

This anthology of Eliot's poetry is an absolute must for anyone interested in the great man himself. It ranges from 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' to 'The Waste Land' and 'Four Quartets' and perhaps some lesser known poems such as 'Gerontion'. T.S. Eliot's work is highly allusive and in some ways challenging, but it is very rewarding and there are many levels which his poetry can be read on. I did have some real trouble with the couple of poems in the selection that are written in French(!), but this may appeal to speakers of the French tongue! The only criticism I can possibly make of this collection is that with a RRP of £12.99 it is rather pricey for a paperback, but it is well worth it if you want fantastic, artful poetry.

OK, here is some more detail to please my audience! One of my favourite poems is the first one in the book, which is 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.' The imagery is extremely potent ("Let us go then, you and I,/When the evening is spread out against the sky/Like a patient etherised upon a table"), and there are allusions to 'Hamlet', 'Twelfth Night', Hessiod, and the Bible amongst others. Essentially it is about growing older, having to conform to the norms and routine of society ("I have measured out my life in coffee spoons") and feeling inferior and unsure of oneself. I'm also a big fan of 'Four Quartets', where Eliot so expertly explores the nature of time and the human condition: "Time present and time past/Are both perhaps present in time future". Hope that helps!