Between Men

Beginning with T.S. Eliot’s death and Cunard’s poem reflecting on their relationship, the chapter examines Cunard’s reputation and representation as it grew out of Eliot’s deleted portrayal of Cunard as Fresca in The Waste Land and later via scurrilous accusations of plagiarism in relation to her long anti-war poem Parallax. The chapter rereads Parallax from a feminist perspective, while unpacking Eliot (and Pound’s) misogyny, in general. Marcus also explores Cunard’s relationship to Henry Crowder, the publication of “Henry-Music” by the Hours Press, the radical left, and her launching of Samuel Beckett’s literary career.