Professor David Peimer
T. S. Eliot’s Poetry and the Influence of Indian Thought
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Summary
T. S. Eliot’s life (1888-1965) and poetry were profoundly influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism. He studied Sanskrit, the Bhagavad Gita, and other works at Harvard. His famous poem which changed 20th-century poetry, “The Waste Land,” shows this in imagery, thought, and poetic rhythms. He grappled with the ancient Indian world and his Christian beliefs—as well as his highly controversial poetry about Jewish people (to put it mildly). In this survey we look at his use of Indian thought and ask: Was it superficial or exotic, or a genuine attempt to explore core questions about human nature, time, spirituality, and our dangerous contemporary world?
Professor David Peimer
David Peimer is a Professor of Literature, Film and Theatre in the UK. He has worked for the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, New York University (Global Division) and was a Fulbright Scholar at Columbia University. Born in South Africa, David has won numerous awards for playwriting and directing in New York, UK, Berlin, EU Parliament (Brussels), Athens, Budapest, Zululand and more. He has most recently directed Dame Janet Suzman in his own play, Joanna’s Story, at London Jewish Book Week. He has published widely with books including: Armed Response: Plays from South Africa, the digital book, Theatre in the Camps. He is on the board of the Pinter Centre (London), and has been involved with the Mandela Foundation, Vaclav Havel Foundation and directed a range of plays at Mr Havel’s Prague theatre.