The Letters of T. S. Eliot: Volume 4, 1928-1929

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In this richly detailed collection, T.S. Eliot's journey to the age of forty marks a significant turning point in his life and work. He transitioned from the Unitarianism of his American roots to being received into the Church of England and becoming a British citizen, reflecting a profound shift in his intellectual and spiritual path. During these years, his professional life as a writer and editor became increasingly complex. The financially struggling periodical he edited, The Criterion, fluctuated between quarterly and monthly issues before being saved by Faber & Gwyer. Alongside numerous essays, lectures, and reviews, Eliot immersed himself in his new role as a publisher. His Ariel poems, including Journey of the Magi and A Song for Simeon, introduced a fresh style and vision following The Waste Land and The Hollow Men. Additionally, he created a jazz-influenced play-in-verse, Sweeney Agonistes, composed of Fragment of a Prologue and Fragment of an Agon. Eliot also endeavored to translate St. John Perse's Anabase, which significantly influenced his later poetry. His correspondence during this transformative period vividly captures his personal and artistic evolution, the anxieties of his private life, and the development of his public reputation.