Quote:
Originally Posted by Bookpossum
Yes, I have heard recordings of him reading his own poetry. I suppose living in England over a long period made him sound more English. After living in England for a year or more, I was surprised to find that people didn't realise I was an Australian - I had blended in without particularly trying to do so.
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The Australian accent comes from the 19th century London accent. They are very close. The American accent comes from the Irish accent, and the British upper class accent comes from God knows where--French and German influenced I suppose. The point I'm making is that I think Eliot must have deliberately chosen to speak with that accent. I don't think it would have developed naturally because it is so far from his presumably native east-coast American accent. I could be wrong. He might have reverted to American when not delivering recitals.