The Complete Prose of T. S. Eliot: The Critical EditionVol. 3: Literature, Politics, Belief, 1927-1929

Tristan da Cunha. To the Editor of The New Statesman

The New Statesman, 30 (22 Oct 1927) 44

SIR, – I congratulate Mr. Campbell upon his poem, “Tristan da Cunha,” in The New Statesmanof to-day. ² His control of the metre is remarkable, and his language stronger and less flamboyant than in some of his earlier work. The poem has a curious resemblance – not in detail, but in rhythm and in general spirit – to a German poem which is almost unknown even in Germany, the Tristan da Cunhaof Johannes Th. Kuhlemann ( Der Strom, Cologne, 1919). ³ I once attempted to translate this poem, which is very fine, but abandoned the attempt. I do not know whether Mr. Campbell knows German but if he does, he might make a very brilliant translation. ⁴

Yours, etc., 24 russell square, w. c. 1. t. s. eliot