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Unsealed Love Letters From T. S. Eliot Reveal The Missouri Poet's Secret Muse

By Brian Ellison,

Danie Alexander, Mackenzie Martin, Grace Cole

Published July 8, 2020 at 4:59 PM CDT

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A digitized envelope addressed to Emily Hale at 41 Brimmer Street in Boston, Massachusetts, and handwritten by T.S. Eliot. Photo. — More than 1,100 letters from T.S. Eliot to Emily Hale were first opened for research at the beginning of this year.

It was a St. Louis-born man who wrote what is considered one of the most important poems of the 20th century — T. S. Eliot. Now, a trove of letters is giving readers and researchers a new window into the life and times of the poet, essayist, playwright and critic.

Recently-unsealed letters from T. S. Eliot reveal much more about the poet than we knew before.

Frances Dickey, associate professor of American literature and director of Online Programs at the University of Missouri

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Brian Ellison

As a host and contributor at KCUR, I seek to create a more informed citizenry and richer community. I want to enlighten and inspire our audience by delivering the information they need with accuracy and urgency, clarifying what’s complicated and teasing out the complexities of what seems simple. I work to craft conversations that reveal realities in our midst and model civil discourse in a divided world. Follow me on Twitter @ptsbrian or email me at brian@kcur.org.

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Danie Alexander

As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.

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Mackenzie Martin

Whether it’s something happening right now or something that happened 100 years ago, some stories don’t fit in the short few minutes of a newscast. As a podcast producer and reporter at KCUR Studios, I help investigate questions and local curiosities in a way that brings listeners along for adventures with plot twists and thought-provoking ideas. Sometimes there isn’t an easy answer in the end – but my hope is that we all leave with a greater understanding of the city we live in. Reach me at mackenzie@kcur.org.

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Grace Cole

Grace Cole is an intern for KCUR's Up To Date.

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