Considering Eliot's intense interest in anthropology and his debt to Victorian urban writing and popular American models, this book attempts to throw new light on Eliot's major works, particularly the earlier ones culminating in "The Waste Land" and "Sweeney Agonistes".

'Crawford's study is illuminating ... Crawford's book establishes anthropology as the major external influence on Eliot's poetry ... a new Scottish poet-critic is announced therefore, and his contribution could be immense. We could do with more' Glasgow Herald 'a powerful and stimulating book' Times Higher Educational Supplement 'an important contribution to the still evolving perception of Eliot's work and eminently readable' Cencrastus `it is ... from Eliot's non-literary reading that Crawford retrieves the most illuminating information' Brendan Jackson, The English Association `an important contribution to the still evolving perception of Eliot's work and eminently readable' Thom Nairn, Cencrastus 'fine study' English Studies