Great Poets: W. B. Yeats

by W.B. Yeats

Naxos AudioBooks continues its new series of Great Poets represented by a collection of their most popular poems on one CD with John Keats. Although this man had a short life, he produced a series of outstanding poems many of which appeared first in letters to his sister. He was largely unappreciated during his lifetime, and died in Rome at the age of 26. Most of his 150 poems were written in just nine extraordinary months in 1819. This selection contains some of his finest works, the principal Odes, La Belle Dame Sans Merci, Old Meg and Much Have I Travelled.

Genres: Poetry, Audiobook, Classics

1 pages, Audio CD

First published December 1, 2007

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

[Laurel Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Power and beauty.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterfully narrated by Jim Norton and Denys Hawthorne, among others, this well-produced audiobook of Yeats’ selected poems offers a judicious sampling of his more famous works, from “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” to “From Under Ben Bulben.” Yeats’ extraordinary genius and passion for life are on full display in this collection and presented with dramatic flair that brings the beauty of the Irish landscape to life and conveys the pathos of the poet who laments the fading of his youth and virility to the ravages of time.

Favorite poems:
“The Lake Isle of Innisfree”
“He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven”
“No Second Troy”
“The Cold Heaven”
“The Wild Swans at Coole”
“The Second Coming”
“Leda and the Swan”
“Sailing to Byzantium”
“A Dialogue of Self and Soul”
“Byzantium”
“An Acre of Grass”
“Under Ben Bulben”
“The Circus Animals’ Desertion”

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essentially a 1-hour "greatest hits" poetry audio book. How can you beat that? Perfect if you, like me, only dip your toe into poetry occasionally.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good selection, by several readers, with some brief intros and even occasional snatches of music. I only wish it were longer....

[Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just enough commentary to make the poetry have context. Solid read.

[Anetq · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Seemingly?) Chronological selection of poets with introductions about the poems and Yeats' life. #Nobel

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A selection of some of Yeats' better know poetry (though not all the top runners). Nicely read by several different readers. The best way to encounter poetry! The resonance of rhyme most skillfully employed.

[Chiuho · Rating 4 out of 5]

The literature itself is no questionable. As my personal preference, listening someone to read poetry to me, that is just romantic.

[♡ rey · Rating 3 out of 5]

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