Deeply involved with Irish culture & history W. B. Yeats (1865-1939) is one of the greatest poets writing in the last two centuries. This sourcebook provides essential help for readers who wish to learn more about his powerful haunting poems. Considering Yeatss early dreamily evocative poems as well as his passionate tension-ridden later work Michael ONeill offers a refreshingly clear discussion of: contexts
- through an invaluable accessible overview a detailed chronology & contemporary documents revealing Yeatss understanding of his vocation as a poet; interpretations
- through helpfully introduced extracts from criticism of Yeatss work ranging from early responses through to modern critical texts; key poems
- in a section where insightful commentary accompanies the full annotated text of many of Yeatss major poems; further reading
- to guide those interested in additional study. This sourcebook is ideal for those new to Yeatss poetry or those who wish to look deeper into its workings its reception & the contexts from which it emerged.