"The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock" by T S Eliot (poetry reading)

Anthony Hopkins' reading posted today 30th Dec 2010
Listen to Anthony instead:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BykfGCPn5IU

Eliot began writing this is 1910 when he was 22 and it is about a young man's social diffidence and lack of self-assurance - he was still a virgin at the time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Love_Song_of_J._Alfred_Prufrock

You can hear TS Eliot himself, much older, read it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhiCMAG658M

For a more theatrical reading here's Gottfried Geist:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2khDhfwsoE

I posted a version of the poem over a year ago, taken from an old mp3 file.

The paintings are by John William Waterhouse (1849-1917)

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Love
• Song
• of
• Alfred
• Prufrock
• Eliot

[TheMimifur]

Who is reading this? The voice reminds me of the actor who played the lead monk in Neverwhere. I can hear him asking me whether I would enjoy a nice cup of tea.

[SpokenVerse]

@TheMimifur Me, Tom O'Bedlam. I read everything in this channel and I hope you will listen to some of my other readings

[ZechsMerquise73]

I like that you brought out his age. Many people mistakenly believe that he was an aged person when he wrote it. This poem says so much so well. I often use these words to mentally explain my feelings.

[aspokenpoetsverse]

We have lingered in the chambers of the sea

By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown

'Till human voices wake us,and we drown.

What a great poem!

[SoonerThenARay]

What are the paintings at the beginning and end?

[cmo8261993]

Amazing...I just discovered this poem today and loved it! Thanks so much for posting!

[SagaciousSilence]

I have kept this poem dear to me since I was a young teenager and with each passing year it has revealed greater depths to me. Only through my maturation and education in the university have I come to appreciate this poem more and more.

[rhymeswithmike]

Wonderful! This has been one of my favorite poems ever since I studied Eliot in university. Thanks for the post!

[nickidame]

Thank you for posting the other reads - They're all good in their way and really helped broaden my understanding. But it's a bit odd to hear the old-resigned voice of Elliot talking about the awkwardness of youth. Same with Geist. After this process, I've rethunk things a bit...I think Young Eliot was being a bit sly or disingenuous here ... Prufrock is a gangly youth... who speaks with robustness, clarity and confidence.