I discovered Eliot in my 20s. I’m still discovering him: I’ve been working my way through Four Quartets for about five years. Spent about 10 years discovering The Waste Land.

Yes he’s a privileged white male.

But even for younger readers, that’s not a huge turn off.

Besides, he may have been gay.

Regarding his public stature - he’s still present - more so than, say, Ezra Pound.

For example, “Better You Believe” (http://www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/better-you-believe...) is one of the most popular short stories of the past decade. It’s partially inspired by the Waste Land. Parts of Song if Ice and Fire also drew inspiration from it.