Even allowing for the 1946 publication and the fact that much of the opinion in Eliot's book follows post-war thinking, this book is still takes evidence from broad claims about class and society and forms what reads as a poorly researched opinion piece about what defines culture. Some sections (observations on Russia that are interesting from a historical context pre-iron-curtain; the last chapter on education) have some interesting merit but really this is a poor read and other researchers from the era present better arguments, with better research. Disappointing as my first foray into TS Eliot's critical writing. ( )