The Love Story of W.B. Yeats and Maud Gonne

by Margery Brady

Set in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, this romantic tale unfolds against a background of political unrest and tenant agitation in Ireland. The poet William Butler Yeats in a central figure in the Irish literary revival, while Maud Gonne, a political activist, is passionately involved in the struggle for Irish independence. But this is not a dissertation about Yeats’ work, nor is it about the history of the day or the political involvements of Maud Gonne. It is a love story, containing some of the most poignant poems ever written.

Genres: Irish Literature, Nonfiction

254 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I loved long and long, And grew to be out of fashion Like an old song.”

“All through the years of our youth
Neither could have known
Their own thought from the other’s
We were so much at one.
But o, in a minute she changed-“

“I had a beautiful friend
And dreamed that the old despair
Would end in love in the end:
She looked in my heart one day
And saw your image was there;
She has gone weeping away.”

[John Fredrickson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Giving the title of this book a "Love Story" is an interesting decision by the author. The depicted history of their relationship comes across mostly as a beautiful woman's manipulation of the poet (and others) to satisfy her political agenda. Neither the infatuation of Yeats nor the headstrong orientation of Gonne provides the reader with much to sympathize with, at least in this presentation.

The book itself is a pretty dry recitation of chronological facts in the lives of these two, almost what one would find in a young student's history report. Given that the subject is a love story, it would have benefited from a lot more nuance in its presentation of Yeats and Gonne's relationship.

[Ob14u · Rating 3 out of 5]

W.B. Yeats fell madly in love with tall, beautiful, English born Maud Gonne , actress, feminist and Irish revolutionary. She became a life long friend who admired Yeats but refused marriage. Her passion was reserved for her lover Lucien Millevoye and Ireland.

She was a fascinating person who along with her peers and son played a part in creating the Ireland of today.

The 'Love Story' was more of an 'Unrequited Love Story' the only offspring, Yeats's most beautiful poetry.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to me as I already knew so much about he and Maud and also the revolutionary period they lived through. I didn't really think it was a well written, nor well researched book though.

[Shay Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting details of a complicated relationship. nicely done but not sure all dates are correct, some are hard to verify for these 2 people.

[Nathaniel Ballesteros · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love story is 10/10, book is pure nonfiction. I intend to change that.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly straightforward in its approach, this was a pretty comprehensive telling of Yeats and Gonne's history. The book didn't delve too much into their lives outside of how the events related back to each other, which kept it short, and to the point. There was some Irish political history touched upon because of its relevance to their lives, and I found it really interesting to read about. I haven't read much of Yeats's poetry but I did recognize a couple of pieces featured in the book. It was fascinating to read about the people and events that inspired them.