The Poetry of W. B. Yeats: Gilded Pocket Edition

by W.B. Yeats

This collection of masterful poetry demonstrates the extraordinary range and beautiful lyricism of Ireland's most accomplished poet, William Butler Yeats. The poems selected here cover love and regret, Irish folktales, beauty, politics, family and satire. From the romantic ideals of his youth to the innovative realist of his later years, this collection spans the breadth of Yeats' output.

This elegant hardback edition presents over 100 of Yeats' best loved poems, featuring gilded page edge, a gold embossed cover design and beautiful endpapers.

Genres: Poetry

224 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2023

About the author

William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and dramatist, and one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature. A pillar of both the Irish and British literary establishments, in his later years Yeats served as an Irish Senator for two terms. He was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival, and along with Lady Gregory and Edward Martyn founded the Abbey Theatre, serving as its chief during its early years. In 1923 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for what the Nobel Committee described as "inspired poetry, which in a highly artistic form gives expression to the spirit of a whole nation." He was the first Irishman so honored. Yeats is generally considered one of the few writers who completed their greatest works after being awarded the Nobel Prize; such works include The Tower (1928) and The Winding Stair and Other Poems (1929).

Yeats was born and educated in Dublin but spent his childhood in County Sligo. He studied poetry in his youth, and from an early age was fascinated by both Irish legends and the occult. Those topics feature in the first phase of his work, which lasted roughly until the turn of the century. His earliest volume of verse was published in 1889, and those slow paced and lyrical poems display debts to Edmund Spenser and Percy Bysshe Shelley, as well as to the Pre-Raphaelite poets. From 1900, Yeats' poetry grew more physical and realistic. He largely renounced the transcendental beliefs of his youth, though he remained preoccupied with physical and spiritual masks, as well as with cyclical theories of life.
--from Wikipedia

Reviews

[Kayley Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this collection to be a bit lackluster. None of these poems gripped me or resonated with me. The writing was okay, but overall I found this to be meh.

[Jack Genereux · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite this being a long dense read, there do happen to be some gem poems in this collection regarding World War One that were done epically swell.

[Kseniia Nosulenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Якщо чесно, часто мої очі плили рядками, а думки десь літали. Але нерідко в голові вибудовувалися казкові сюжети про фейрі та старих королев, про ірландських моряків та пияків, ну і звісно якісь біблійні сцени (2 вірша про Соломона і Шебу вочевидь привернули мою увагу).

Мені було добре з цією поезією. І окремо я рада, що ближче познайомилася зі ще одним нобелівським лавреатом.

Більше відгуків: https://t.me/kseniia_reads

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps if I were a more avid or astute reader of poetry I would’ve enjoyed this one more. I liked it and found some of the Irish history/mythology elements interesting, but I really would’ve needed a companion guide to fully understand the works and their significance. Perhaps at another time I would’ve felt more compelled to put forth that effort, but as a casual reader, I moderately enjoyed the collection.

[The Scarecrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harassing some chick who wanted nothing to do with you, moving on by trying to bang her daughter and then marrying a 25 y/o when you’re 52 isn’t super cash money of you, Yeatey-boy.

Poetry still bussin tho.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - the earlier entries in this anthology were great, and I ended up marking quite a few of them with little sticky notes for future reference. The 2nd half of this little anthology lost my interest as the entries became more depressing, but I enjoyed it overall!

[Taylor Emerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so so beautiful, I am completely in love with Yeats’ poetry. The Swan is my personal favorite.

[Tomass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kad Jeitss neaizraujas ar īru folkloras elementiem, kurus man grūti novērtēt, tad ir riktīgi labi. Diemžēl viņš ļoti bieži aizraujas ar īru folkloras elementiem, kurus man grūti novērtēt.