Late in his life T. S. Eliot, when asked if his poetry belonged in the tradition of American literature, replied: "I'd say that my poetry has obviously more in common with my distinguished contemporaries in America than with anything written in my generation in England. That I'm sure of. . . . In its sources, in its emotional springs, it comes from America." In T. S. Eliot: The Making of an American Poet, James Miller offers the first sustained account of Eliot's early years, showing that the emotional springs of his poetry did indeed come from America.

Miller challenges long-held assumptions about Eliot's poetry and his life. Eliot himself always maintained that his poems were not based on personal experience, and thus should not be read as personal poems. But Miller convincingly combines a reading of the early work with careful analysis of surviving early correspondence, accounts from Eliot's friends and acquaintances, and new scholarship that delves into Eliot's Harvard years. Ultimately, Miller demonstrates that Eliot's poetry is filled with reflections of his personal experiences: his relationships with family, friends, and wives; his sexuality; his intellectual and social development; his influences.

Publication of T. S. Eliot: The Making of an American Poet marks a milestone in Eliot scholarship. At last we have a balanced portrait of the poet and the man, one that takes seriously his American roots. In the process, we gain a fuller appreciation for some of the best-loved poetry of the twentieth century.

About the Author
James E. Miller, Jr., is the Helen A. Regenstein Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Chicago. Penn State Press also published his earlier book, T. S. Eliot's Personal Waste Land (1977).

Reviews

"Given the importance of James E. Miller's previous work on Eliot for understanding the erotic energies driving his poetry, T.S. Eliot: The Making of an American Poet is an especially welcome event. This biography represents the culmination of decades of research and will be indispensable reading for Eliot scholars."

-Tim Dean, University at Buffalo (SUNY)

"For a figure as elusive as Eliot, whose runic remains no two readers interpret the same way, this makes for a valuable compendium-a kind of do-it-yourself portrait kit."

-Brian Hall Wilson Quarterly

"Filled with revelations, assumptions, and recommendations for further research, T.S. Eliot: The Making of an American Poet, three parts meticulous research and one part speculation, is both weighty and intuitive. Easy to access, logically organized, scrupulously referenced, and index-friendly, Miller's book is a satisfying treat for Eliot scholars who enjoy a coffee spoon of gossip with their literary research."

-Kathleen Nicklaus South Atlantic Review

Book Information
ISBN 9780271027623
Author James E. Miller Jr.
Format Paperback
Page Count 488
Imprint Pennsylvania State University Press
Publisher Pennsylvania State University Press
Weight(grams) 907g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 156mm * 30mm