London, Nov 1: A series of letters has debunked the myth surrounding poet TS Eliot’s reputation as an uncaring and cruel husband.

The letters mostly written by and to Eliot during the 1920s have revealed the American-born poet was often deeply concerned about his wife, Vivien’s severe ill-health.

He was so upset with his wife’s undiagnosed and debilitating condition that he even slammed her doctors, calling one a charlatan and another a “German brute”.

He even wrote: “I have tried to kill myself.”

In April 1924 letter his brother, Eliot said, “The last illness of V’s has been indescribable. She suffered more in spirit than ever before. I have not been able to leave her for three months.”

London, Oct 31 : TS Eliot’s poem ‘The Waste Land’ might have given him international stardom but a year after it was published he was broke, and on the verge of a breakdown.

A series of newly published letters have revealed that his personal life had turned into a nightmare despite winning accolades for his literary work.

He was forced to work for Lloyds bank by day and edit Criterion, a quarterly magazine, by night, reports the Telegraph.