A series of five programmes about T.S. Eliot 's last great enterprise as a poet - the work with which he attempted to
'insinuate the whole history of a language and a civilisation' into his writing. From tomorrow, the programmes are framed with two complete readings of the poems: by Alec Guinness , first broadcast in 1973, and by John Franklyn-Robbins , first broadcast in 1983. 1: Civilised Doubts
'There are some words whose history is almost the history of England.' T.S. ELIOT
Dr Eric Griffiths. Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, looks at Eliot's words in his journalism and letters, reflects on the poet's unfashionable uncertainty about political conviction, and describes how Eliot's scrutiny of his society found its way into the Four Quartets.
With Maurice Cowling. Readers MARTIN JARVIS and ALEX JENNINGS
Producer THOMAS SUTCLIFFE (R)