The Poems of T. S. Eliot Audiobook By T. S. Eliot cover art

The Poems of T. S. Eliot

Read by Jeremy Irons

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The Poems of T. S. Eliot

By: T. S. Eliot
Narrated by: Jeremy Irons, Dame Eileen Atkins
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About this listen

Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4, Jeremy Irons' perceptive reading illuminates the poetry of T. S. Eliot in all its complexity. Major poems range from 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' through the post-war desolation of 'The Waste Land' and the spiritual struggle of 'Ash-Wednesday', to the enduring charm of 'Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats'.

The Spectator praised Jeremy Irons' interpretation as 'so accessible, reading Eliot as if finding his words for the first time, grappling with them, relishing them, using them to express feelings that we all share as we struggle to accept, to recognise or relinquish'. Dame Eileen Atkins also appears alongside Jeremy Irons in the reading of 'The Waste Land'.

UPDATED EDITION WITH POEM TITLES FOR EASY NAVIGATION.

©2015 BBC (P)2016 BBC
European Poetry United States Funny Old Poetry
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Critic reviews

"For such a major poet, Eliot left a fairly sparse body of work, and all his mature poems are here. And while many consider him to be a fairly austere modernist, these readings by Jeremy Irons bring out the human passion (and sometimes the intellectual passion) that lurks in the poems.... His versions are simply more human, as beautifully crafted as the poems themselves." (AudioFile)

Featured Article: The Best Poetry Audiobooks to Listen to for National Poetry Month


It’s a common turn of phrase that poetry is meant to be heard. Tone, pauses, cadence, and vocal inflections all serve to further the emotional pull of modern and historical poetic masterpieces. In audio, poems can be heard and enjoyed just as the poet meant them to be. Taking into account not only the words themselves but the way they are spoken, our list provides a look at the power behind a poem, celebrating those works which have touched our souls.

What listeners say about The Poems of T. S. Eliot

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Accessible and enjoyable....

Jeremy Irons narration is so spot on... to the tone, tenor and feel of T.S. Elliot's poetry that I re-listened to many of the poems.
Yes, it takes a bit of life experience to enjoy Elliot and yes, he writes from his time and from his insights and passions, but much of good literature and poetry takes some care and attention to digest..... still, it is so good the soul. Your life is richer for taking the time while driving in the car, in the kitchen, in the garage, out on a walk or sitting in a good chair by the fireplace. I strongly recommend this audible book. I have 200 plus audible books and this one ranks in my top 10.

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12 people found this helpful

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Great

Jeremy Irons does a great job reading a great poet. Can’t think of a better voice for the Hollow Men.

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Indexing has been corrected.

I was hesitant to purchase, given the number of complaints that the reading was one long item with no verbal titles or indexing of the individual poems. All the longer poems are now verbally introduced and all the poems are indexed and titled in the Chapters section.

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8 people found this helpful

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Beautiful performance, Great poems!

I love Eliot's poetry, and I deeply enjoyed hearing it read by such skilled voices! A fantastic recording!

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Would it have been too difficult?

to use the names of the poems instead of Chapter 21, 26, 32, etc.? Really?

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Excellent poetry read by a Brilliant and Gifted Narrator

I love TS Elliot and was overjoyed to stumble upon this book of his poetry. But the narrator added a new dimension to Elliot’s masterpieces. He made images rise from the page and settle into the heart. His performance deserves 10 stars. This was a most enjoyable experience.

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good stuff

jeremy irons is a wonderful reader, I'm not the biggest fan of Eliot but he gave life to the poems beautifully.

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Great content wonderfully rendered

Jeremy Irons narrated this series for the BBC. I think those unfamiliar with TS Eliot will enjoy this as well. Included are "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" and "The Wasteland", along with a series of selected poems that includes "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats". This book is short, but it will give you hours of pleasure whenever you put it on.

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Discovering Eliot's poetry in the NOW.

Unquestionably for this lover and scholar of T S Eliot, Jeremy Irons's readings are extraordinary. His voice makes the words sound as if they are new, coming to life in the present, not being read or recited.

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Great Voice & Performance Brings Eliot to Life

In the years I've been an Audible user I've loved those audiobooks I find that are truly one of a kind. Jeremy Irons brings a life to T.S. Eliot that I never envisioned in my imagination. Irons, a great, great actor, has given me a poet. One of the best hidden treasures on Audible. Eliot and Irons demonstrate the power of great modern verse with a refreshing masculine component.

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