cover image The Poems of T.S. Eliot

The Poems of T.S. Eliot

T.S. Eliot, read by Jeremy Irons. Faber & Faber, unabridged, 4 CDs, 3.5 hrs., $29.95 ISBN 978-0-571-34270-9

Academy Award–winning actor Irons, whose voice credits include the memorable role of Scar in Disney’s The Lion King, brings considerable talent to reading this collection of Eliot’s poetry. Irons expertly matches the wide range of emotional tones presented in the poems, from a jovial lilt for the short, satiric jab on modernity in the poem “Cousin Nancy,” to a sincere solemnity for the modern touchstone “The Waste Land.” He fully embraces the whimsy found in “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.” His recitations of such classics as “The Rum Tum Tugger,” “Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer,” and “Gus: The Theater Cat” are delightful; his rhythms, characterizations, and playful intonations fit perfectly with the material. The result is a potent vocal interpretation of the classic works of one of the 20th century’s most celebrated poets. (Apr.)