The source material, old possums book of practical cats, is a collection of poems that t. Old possums book of practical cats first edition t. Valerie eliot helped shape a writing legends legacy. Vincent millay, richard eberhart, marianne moore, stephen spender. Old possum s book of practical cats skip to main content. An introduction to old possums book of practical cats the british. Eliot was given the nickname possum by ezra pound, who got it from. Eliot and his creepy mentorcrony ezra pound peppered their snooty rags with antisemitic jibes and worse. Old possums book of practical cats is a collection of whimsical poems by t.
This edition of the complete poems and plays, published for the first time in paperback, includes all of his verse and work for the stage, from prufrock and other observations 1917 to four quartets 1943, and includes such literary landmarks as the waste land, old possums book of practical cats and murder in the cathedral. Eliot september 26, 1888january 4, 1965 was an americanborn poet, essayist, publisher, playwright, and critic. A clue to eliots intention is found in his choice of title. Start studying introduction to mdern literature english 3 quiz. Alfred prufrock, through the postwar desolation of the waste land and the spiritual struggle of ashwednesday, to the enduring charm of old possums book of practical cats. Ezra weston loomis pound october 30, 1885 november 1, 1972 was an american expatriate, poet, musician and critic who, along with t. Eliot was nicknamed old possum by his close comrade in modernist poetry, ezra pound il miglior fabbro, the better craftsman, as he is hailed. Old possums book of practical cats thomas stearns eliot. After teaching for a year or so he joined lloyds bank in the. Written by ezra pound, wb yeats, robert graves, edna st. Voices of poetry, volume 2 audiobook by ezra pound, wb. In 1939, eliot published a book of light verse, old possums book of practical cats old possum was ezra pounds nickname for him. Eliot was awarded the nobel prize in literature in 1948.
Eliot at the top, but the central banner statement is. Old possums book of practical cats the fitzrovia chapel. Thomas stearns eliot om, 26 september 1888 4 january 1965. Alfred prufrock through the postwar desolation of the waste land and the spiritual struggle of ashwednesday, to the enduring charm of old possum s book of practical cats. T s eliot literary essays of ezra pound 1st edition 1954. Old possums book of practical cats pennys poetry pages. Old possum s book of practical cats discussion 180 views. Eliot wrote the poems in the 1930s, and included them, under his assumed name old possum, in letters to his godchildren. One of the most eminent modernists, he was awarded the nobel prize in literature in 1948 for his outstanding, pioneer contributions to presentday poetry. Vincent millay, richard eberhart, philip levine, marianne moore, audiobook narrated by ezra pound, wb yeats, robert graves, edna st.
He has been translated and staged in many cities around the world, and has won many awards such as the tony awards and laurence olivier. It serves as the basis for andrew lloyd webbers musical cats eliot wrote the poems in the 1930s, and included them, under his assumed name old possum, in letters to his godchildren. Eliot, old possums book of practical cats, 1939 humankind cannot bear very much reality t. Make offer t s eliot literary essays of ezra pound 1st edition 1954. Eliot about feline psychology and sociology, published by faber and faber. This edition of the complete poems and plays, published for the first time in paperback, includes all of his verse and work for the stage, from prufrock and other observations 1917 to four quartets 1943, and includes such literary landmarks as the waste land, old possum s book of practical cats and murder in the cathedral.
Old possums book of practical cats 1939 four quartets 1945 with the prestige and podium found as editor of criterion and with lady rothermeres financial support to the operation, he quit his banking job. Old possums book of practical cats is a book of comic verse by the american modernist poet t s eliot. He settled in england in 1915, the year in which he married vivienne haighwood and also met his contemporary ezra pound for the first time. Francesca hayward, the pick of the litter in cats the. Early modernism, which type of traditional poetry influenced early modernist. Alfred prufrock and his play murder in the cathedral about thomas becket are. Old possum s book of practical cats is a book of comic verse by the american modernist poet t s eliot. Dorothy pound responded with a letter devoted to cat chat, describing how ezra pounds black cat swartz wouldnt walk across the snowcovered rooftops in rapallo. Eliots famous collection of nonsense verse about catsthe inspiration for the andrew. Old possums book of practical cats 1939 not only became a bestseller for his publishing house but also thanks to the royalties from andrew lloyd webber s eighties stage musical. In 1954, the composer alan rawsthorne set six of the poems for speaker and orchestra in. Old possums book of practical cats discussion 180 views.
She approved the use of eliots old possums book of practical cats 1939 as the basis of andrew lloyd webbers stage musical cats 1981. Francesca hayward, the pick of the litter in cats the new. Although he is celebrated as a great poet, eliot wrote relatively few poems. Eliot about feline psychology and sociology, published by faber and. Though this seems surprising given the seriousness of the rest of eliots output, the waste land 1922, for example, contains passages of nursery rhyme and popular song. Lawrences lady chatterleys lover a book that had been banned in britain and the u. Eliot published a volume of whimsical poems about the furry beasts, entitled old possums book of practical cats. Eliot was nicknamed old possum by his close comrade in modernist poetry, ezra pound il miglior fabbro, the better craftsman, as he is hailed in the dedication to the waste land. Eliot was a hugely influential twentiethcentury poet and winner of the nobel prize for literature in 1948.
It is the basis for the recordsetting musical cats. Old possums book of practical cats the british library. One of his best loved works was old possums book of practical cats, a book of light verse which would become the inspiration for the hit musical cats. Old possums book of practical cats old possum was the contemporary american poet ezra pounds nickname for eliot. Cats, which uses the poems from eliots old possums book of practical cats. This first edition had an illustration of the author on the cover. Octavo, original yellow cloth, uncut, original dust jacket.
Eliot began a lifelong friendship with american poet ezra pound, who immediately recognized eliots poetic genius and worked to publish his work. Introduction to early modern literature quiz 9 terms. The poems were written during the 1930s and included by eliot, under his assumed name. He published his influential early criticism, much of it. His friend, ezra pound, another modern poet, helped him finish it. Eliot received numerous fan letters regarding practical cats people of all ages felt moved to share details of their own cats, their names and quirks. Old possums book of practical cats is a book of comic verse by the american modernist poet t s eliot the works contained are nonsense poems in the tradition of edward lear. Macavity, the mystery cat mr mistofelees, the original conjuring cat mungojerrie and. Old possums book of practical cats drawings edward gorey sc. Today is the second most enduring show in broadway history, where it performed the following year. Aside from the author of old possums book of practical cats, faber and faber were and always has been deeply committed to poetry and its stable of poets during the eliot era included ezra pound, w. Valerie eliot founded old possums practical trust in january 1990.
Scott fitzgerald, hemingway, poet ezra pound, and stein all spent a great deal of time at the shop, which also functioned as a lending library for avantgarde or risque works like d. Eliot, including old possums book of practical cats, and the waste land and other poems, and more on. Eliots whimsical book, old possums book of practical cats subsequently made into the successful musical show, cats, on the london and broadway stages stems from pounds nickname for eliot. Old possum s book of practical cats is a collection of whimsical poems by t.
Old possums book of practical cats cats musical wiki fandom. Ezra pound, 18851972 ezra weston loomis pound ezra pound, along with t. Yes, and thats something i dont understand about eliot. He was the driving force behind several modernist movements, notably imagism and. Buy a cheap copy of old possums book of practical cats by t. While its primary purpose has been to increase knowledge and appreciation of any matters of historic, artistic, architectural, literary, musical or theatrical interest, mrs eliot concentrated on literary, educational and theatrical endeavours, as do the present trustees. Old possums book of practical cats can safely be classed as perhaps his lightest piece of work. According to wikipedia, ezra weston loomis pound 30 october 1885 1 november 1972 was an american expatriate poet and.
Eliots whimsical book, old possum s book of practical cats subsequently made into the successful musical show, cats, on the london and broadway stages stems from pound s nickname for eliot. Okay, we had to include something from eliots ailurophilic 1939 work old possums book of practical cats the inspiration for andrew lloydwebbers musical, cats. Eliot simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Introduction to early modern literature flashcards quizlet. Eliots most popular books, in its original dust jacket designed and drawn by eliot.
At the urging of ezra pound, he also became assistant editor at egoist magazine. Old possums book of practical cats critical essays. Eliots classic old possums poetry collection, starring. Old possums book of practical cats 1939 is a collection of whimsical light poems by t. Old possums book of practical cats the waste land the love song of j. Beach was also the first to publish james joyces ulysses. It was fellow poet ezra pound who first gave the nickname old possum to eliot. Yes, its the very same book that andrew lloyd webber would adapt into the musical theatre atrocity, cats.
One gentleman sent a large watercolour illustration of himself and his cats, together with. Eliot s most popular books, in its original dust jacket designed and drawn by eliot. Want to know more about the cat in literature, art and history. In 1939, eliot published a book of light verse, old possum s book of practical cats old possum was ezra pound s nickname for him.
Philip writes, eliot and his creepy mentorcrony ezra pound peppered their snooty rags with antisemitic jibes and worse. Pound was born in a small, twostorey house in hailey, idaho territory on october 30, 1885. One famous book of his was written for children and is called the old possums book of practical. Eliot put a great deal more effort, and derived greater satisfaction from his verse plays. Eliot, and the longest brief in the english langwidge umich law.
One of his best loved works was old possum s book of practical cats, a book of light verse which would become the inspiration for the hit musical cats. Eliot became a director of faber and faber, writing and publishing poetry and literary criticism. As brilliant a writer as he is, he is caught up in this awful strand of. Eliots book old possums book of practical cats might have been a tribute to ezra pounds love of cats, as pound was nicknamed old possum. Eliot, was one of the two main influences on british and u. The outbreak of world war i prevented his return to the united states, and, persuaded by ezra pound to remain in england, he decided to settle there permanently. Then, in the 1980s, british composer andrew lloyd webber set the poems to music and made a mint with the musical cats, which ran for about 400 years on broadway.
Eliots old possum nickname became common knowledge in literary circles, and he even published old possums book of practical cats in. By appropriating the old language from the literature of their youth, eliot and pound considered themselves to be at the forefront of poetic ingenuity. Eliots old possum nickname became common knowledge in literary circles, and he even published old possums book of practical cats in 1939. She published an acclaimed edition of the waste land, complete with notes from ezra pound. Old possum s book of practical cats 1939 is a collection of whimsical light poems by t. It serves as the basis for andrew lloyd webber s musical cats. Eliot, was a major figure of the modernist movement in early 20th century poetry. Eliot put a great deal more effort, and derived greater satisfaction from his.
The poems were written during the 1930s and included by eliot, under his assumed name old possum, in letters to his godchildren. Old possums book of practical cats critical essays enotes. Old possums book of practical cats was published on 5th october 1939 in an edition of 3005 copies at 36d and proved early on to be popular with fans old and new. Eliot published a volume of whimsical poems about the furry beasts, entitled old possum s book of practical cats. The works contained are nonsense poems in the tradition of edward lear. Old possum s book of practical cats the waste land the love song of j. Originally broadcast on bbc radio 4, jeremy irons perceptive reading illuminates the poetry of t. It serves as the basis for andrew lloyd webbers musical cats. Though this seems surprising given the seriousness of the rest of eliots output, the waste land 1922, for. Alfred prufrock through the postwar desolation of the waste land and the spiritual struggle of ashwednesday, to the enduring charm of old possums book of practical cats. They were collected and published in 1939 with cover.
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