Tristan Corbière and T. S. Eliot's Salt-Encrusted Poetry.

This article examines the significant but often overlooked influence of the French Breton poet Tristan Corbière (1847–1875) on T. S. Eliot’s poetry, particularly focusing on Corbière’s maritime poems from *Les Amours jaunes* ("Yellow Loves"). It highlights how Eliot drew on Corbière’s unsentimental and polyphonic depictions of the sea and sailors, especially in the draft sea passages of *The Waste Land* and later in *Four Quartets*. The analysis emphasizes Corbière’s oral style, specialized marine vocabulary, and sound patterns as foundational to Eliot’s portrayal of maritime themes, including the depiction of drowning in the “Death by Water” section. The article also situates Eliot’s engagement with Corbière within broader French Symbolist influences and Eliot’s personal experiences with the sea, underscoring Corbière’s role as a crucial model for Eliot’s marine imagery and poetic voice.