Thomas Stearns Eliot was an American-born British poet, essayist, playwright, and literary critic. He is best known for his influential works such as "The Waste Land," "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," and "Four Quartets." Eliot's writing is often characterized by its modernist style, complex themes, and innovative use of language. He was a key figure in the literary and cultural movement of modernism and had a significant impact on 20th-century poetry and literature. Eliot was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948 for his outstanding contribution to the world of poetry.