W. B. Yeats: A New Biography

by A. Norman Jeffares

Half a century ago, Norman Jeffares wrote the definitive biography of W.B. Yeats, which was subsequently published in a revised edition in 1990 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the poet's death. The present volume, a re-issue of the 1990 edition with a new introduction and bibliography, is an account of Yeats's life and work, together with a fascinating collection of letters, photographs and poetry.

Genres: Poetry, Biography, History, Ireland

326 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Alexander Norman "Derry" Jeffares was an Irish literary scholar.

Reviews

[Paul Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have liked to have learned more about his interactions with O’Duffys’s fascist Blueshirts, which must have been significant as he was writing marching songs for them.

Leaving aside such omissions, the book isn’t bad for an overall impression, including his complex relation to Irish nationalism.

‘As always, Yeats yearned for a society where all classes would share in a half-mythological half-philosophical folk belief.’ p.212.

That’s supposed to be bad???

[Andrea Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned about one of my favourite poets and how he lived his life. His poetry, his interests and his passions. Yeats wrote some of the most beautiful poetry of the 20th Century and this book gives some insight into how that poetry came about.