Willie and Maud

by Barry Shortall

Willie and Maud is about one of the most famous and fascinating love affairs of the Irish literary world. William Butler Yeats was Ireland's greatest poet of the 20th century. Maud Gonne, an esteemed beauty, was renowned for her lifelong dedication to the cause of Irish nationalism. Their story was one of sexual passion and unrequited love. Yeats fell in love with her the moment they met, while she, much to his sadness and frustration, frigidly rejected his repeated proposals of marriage. Both went on to marry others-with Yeats embarking on a series of affairs-yet she remained the source of inspiration for much of his work. This novel, set against the dramatic events of Ireland's civil unrest and war, deals with their involvement in the political and cultural movements of the time-the birth of Sinn Fein, the Easter Rising, and the founding of the Abbey Theatre.

326 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2003

Reviews

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked both characters less after reading this.