Paul J Allen's WB Yeats Page

Writer, dramatist, founder of the Abbey Theatre, and the greatest modern poet

writing in English. William Butler Yeats was born on 13 June 1865 at 5 Sandymount

Avenue, Dublin. He was the son of John Butler Yeats, a barrister who became a fine

(though financially unsuccessful) portrait painter and Susan Pollexfen, the daughter of a

wealthy Sligo merchant family. Shortly after his birth the family moved to London, where his father thought

he might have more success. Yeats went to the Godolphin School, Hammersmith, but spent delightful

holidays in Sligo with his grandparents. When the family returned to Dublin in 1880 he attended Erasmus

Smith High School, in Harcourt Street, Dublin. His father wished him to go to Trinity College, following the

family tradition, but he refused: he feared he would not meet the entrance requirements. Instead he studied at

the Metropolitan School of Art in 1884–5, and then in 1886 at the Royal Hibernian Academy.

At the Metropolitan he became friendly with the mystic and poet George Russell and a group of others interested in the occult. At the Contemporary Club, where there was a ferment of ideas and lively debate, he

met Douglas Hyde, Stephen Gwynn, John O’Leary, Michael Davitt and other important figures. From an

early age he had been writing poetry and plays in imitation of Shelley and Spenser, and about 1886 he

decided to abandon art and devote himself to writing. Yeats published his first lyrics in the Dublin University Review in 1885. He worked for some time as

literary correspondent for American newspapers, including the Boston Pilot. Interests in

Irish myth and

his commitment to the Irish national identity stemmed cause mainly from living in the

West

of Ireland and from his contact with the Fenian, John O’Leary. He joined the

Blavatsky London Lodge of the Theosophical Society (1887) and the Order of the

Golden Dawn (1890). Yeats’s experiments with the occult were as much a matter of

poetic imagination as a pursuit of the supernatural. He met most of the poets of

his generation at the Rhymers’ Club, which he helped found. In 1891 he helped

establish the Irish Literary Society of London. The following year, in Dublin, he

joined with John O’Leary in founding the National Literary Society to publicise

the

literature, folklore, and legends of Ireland. In 1888 he published Fairy and folk tales

the Irish peasantry, his Irish fairy tales appeared in 1892. In 1889 he published The Wanderings of

Oisin, a long, highly imaginative poem based on Irish mythology, 1892 The Countess Cathleen, his first

poetic play. His volume of folk stories, The Celtic Twilight, appeared in 1893. In 1895 he edited A Book of

Irish Verse and published Poems. Three collections of poems appeared in 1897: The Secret Rose, The Tables

of the Law, and The Adoration of the Magi. Yeats first met the love of his life, Maud Gonne, in 1889. For him she symbolised the spirit of tragic

beauty and Irish nationalism. He proposed marriage to her in 1891 but was rejected. He was impressed by her

revolutionary activities and she was the subject of many of his love poems. His long-sustained passion for her was to have enormous consequences for his politics and his poetry. When he later wrote of nationalist politics in his Autobiographies as ‘the fixed ideas of some hysterical woman, a part of the mind turned into stone’, he

had her in mind. He became active in advanced nationalist politics after the Parnellite split (1890) and tried to

mobilise nationalist literary groups as a basis for an Irish artistic revival. He joined the IRB playing a

prominent part in the celebrations of the centenary of the 1798 Rising.

In 1896 he met Lady Augusta Gregory, a talented and capable woman whose house at Coole Park, Co

Galway, offered a warm welcome to writers and artists. She encouraged him and helped him establish the

Irish Literary Theatre. George Moore and Edward Martyn (who had introduced Yeats to Lady Gregory)

joined with Yeats as the directors of the Irish Literary Theatre Society. It had its first performance, Yeats’s

The Countess Cathleen, in 1899 and there was a great lot of controversy over it. In 1902 Maud Gonne played

the title role in Yeats’s Cathleen Ni Houlihan: it was a dramatic triumph. He was still deeply in love with her,

but she rejected him again and to his horror married Major John McBride in 1903.

Collaboration with Frank and William Fay led to the founding of the Irish National Theatre, Yeats and

Lady Gregory being co-directors. After the turn of the century he abandoned active politics and devoted

himself to writing. Annie Horniman, a wealthy Englishwoman from Manchester, bought the Mechanics’

Institute in Abbey St, Dublin, for the Irish Theatre in 1904 and gave it a subsidy for some

years. On the opening night, 27 Dec 1904, the Abbey Players presented a treble bill, On

Baile’s Strand and Cathleen Ni Houlihan by Yeats and Spreading the News by Lady

Gregory. It produced a new Yeats play nearly every year. In 1906, under a new

constitution, Yeats, Lady Gregory and J. M. Synge were appointed directors. Yeats

remained a director until his death. The founding of the Abbey, was in his own words ‘a

small dingy and impecunious theatre’, marked the launching of a dramatic movement that

made Dublin an important literary capital in the first quarter of the century. Yeats took a

firm stand against clerics and nationalists, who quarrelled over the political and moral role

of the theatre. Yeats was, above all, famous as a great poet. An American lecture tour (1903–4) helped

establish his reputation. In 1913 he received a Civil List pension of £150 a year, but he refused a knighthood

in 1915. A year later he proposed again to Maud Gonne, now a widow since the execution of her husband

John MacBride, for his part in the Rising. She refused yet again. His greatest achievement in poetry came

with the publication of four volumes between 1919 and 1933. The Wild Swans at Coole (1919), Michael

Robartes and the Dancer (1921), The Tower (1928), and the Winding Stair (1933). Several of his poems were

written in honour of the executed leaders of the 1916 Rising, some of whom had been

fellow-workers in the literary movement. In 1917 Yeats married Georgie Hyde-Lees (she

was 26, he was 52). Marriage changed his life and Georgie influenced his poetry. In A

Vision (1925), a piece full of symbolism, he set out his ideas on mankind and art, and was

the framework of later poems. Two children were born, Anne in 1919, and Michael in 1921.

He bought Thoor Ballylee, a small derelict tower-house in Co. Galway, close to Lady

Gregory’s home, and 82 Merrion Square, a fine Georgian house in Dublin in 1922.

Made

a Senator of the Irish Free State by President Cosgrave and he played an active role in the

Senate. He chaired the committee on the new coinage design. Made a remarkable contribution to the debate

on divorce, including a noble defence of the Irish Protestant tradition with which he strongly identified: ‘We

are one of the great stocks of Europe. We are the people of Burke; we are the people of Grattan; we are the

people of Swift and Parnell. We have created the most of the modern literature of this county’. He received

honorary degrees from Queen’s University College Belfast and University College Dublin. In 1923 he was

awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. In1932 he co-founded with George Bernard Shaw the Irish Academy

of Letters, for the promotion of creative writing in Ireland. In the mid-twenties, his health began to fail. On

medical advice he spent many winters from 1927 in Italy and France. One of his last major literary

undertakings was the controversial Oxford Book of Modern Verse, 1892–1935 editorship (1936). Despite age

and ill-health, his output was remarkable, especially his powerful New Poems (1938) and Last Poems

(1938–9). Late in the winter of 1938 he left Ireland for the Riviera in failing health. He died at Roquebrune,

Cap Martin, in the south of France on the 28 January 1939. His remains were brought back to Ireland in

1948 and re-interred in the churchyard of his grandfather’s parish at Drumcliff, Co. Sligo. His headstone

bears his own cryptic epitaph (left). The High Cross at Drumcliff Church where Yeats now lies in the

graveyard there. Born on 13 June 1865 at 5 Sandymount Avenue,

Dublin. Son of John Butler Yeats, barrister who became a

fine (financially unsuccessful) portrait painter and Susan

Pollexfen, the daughter of a wealthy Sligo merchant family.

Shortly after his birth the family moved to London, where his father

thought he might have more success. Went to the Godolphin School,

Hammersmith, but spent delightful holidays in Sligo with his

grandparents. When the family returned to Dublin in 1880 he attended

Erasmus Smith High School, in Harcourt Street, Dublin. His father wished

him to go to Trinity College, following the family tradition, but he refused,

fearing he wouldn't t meet entrance requirements. Instead studied at the

Metropolitan School of Art in 1884–5, then in 1886 at the Royal Hibernian

Academy Writer, dramatist, founder of the Abbey Theatre Greatest

modern poet writing in English.At Metropolitan became friendly with the

mystic and poet George Russell and group of others interested in the

occult. At Contemporary Club, ferment of ideas and lively debate, met

Douglas Hyde, Stephen Gwynn, John O’Leary, Michael Davitt and other

important figures. From early age had been writing poetry and plays in

imitation of Shelley and Spenser About 1886 decided to abandon art and

devote himself to writings.

Publishes first lyrics in the Dublin University Review (1885). Works

as literary correspondent for American newspapers, including Boston Pilot.

Interests in Irish myth and commitment to Irish national identity cause

stemmed mainly from living in West of Ireland and contact with the

Fenian, John O’Leary. Joined Blavatsky London Lodge of Theosophical

Society (1887) and Order of the Golden Dawn (1890).

Experiments with occult were as much a matter of poetic

imagination as a pursuit of supernatural. He met most poets of his

generation at Rhymers’ Club, which he helped found. 1891 helped

establish Irish Literary Society of London. Following year, in Dublin, joins

John O’Leary in founding National Literary Society to publicise literature,

folklore, and legends of Ireland. 1888 publishes Fairy and folk tales of the

Irish peasantry and his Irish fairy tales appeared in 1892.

1889 publishes The Wanderings of Oisin, long, highly imaginative

poem based on Irish mythology,1892 The Countess Cathleen, first poetic

play. Volume of folk stories, The Celtic Twilight, appears 1893. 1895 edits A

Book of Irish Verse and publishes Poems. Three collections of poems

appear 1897: The Secret Rose, The Tables of the Law, and The Adoration of

the Magi. 1889 Meets love of life, Maud Gonne, symbolises spirit of

tragic beauty & Irish nationalism. Proposes marriage 1891 but rejected.

Impressed by her revolutionary activities, subject of many of his love

poems. Long-sustained passion had enormous consequences for his politics

and poetry. Later wrote of nationalist politics in his Autobiographies as

‘the fixed ideas of some hysterical woman, a part of the mind turned into

stone’, had her in mind. Became active in advanced nationalist politics

after the Parnellite split (1890). Tried to mobilise nationalist literary

groups as basis for Irish artistic revival. Joined IRB, played prominent part

in the 1798 Rising centenary celebrations 1896 met Lady Augusta Gregory,talented and capable woman whose

house at Coole Park, Co Galway, offered warm welcome to writers and

artists. She encouraged him and helped him establish Irish Literary

Theatre. George Moore and Edward Martyn joined him as Irish Literary

Theatre Society directors. Had first, 1899, performance, Yeats’s The

Countess Cathleen, great lot of controversy over it. 1902 Maud Gonne

played title role in Yeats’s Cathleen Ni Houlihan: dramatic triumph. Still

deeply in love with her, she rejected him again and married Major John

McBride in 1903. Collaborated with Frank and William Fay led to founding of Irish

National Theatre, Yeats and Lady Gregory co-directors. After 1900

abandons active politics Devotes life to writing. 1904 Annie Horniman,

Manchester wealthy Englishwoman bought Mechanics’ Institute in Abbey

St, Dublin, the Irish Theatre, gave it a subsidy for some years. On opening

night, 27 December 1904, Abbey Players presented treble bill, On Baile’s

Strand and Cathleen Ni Houlihan by Yeats and Spreading the News by Lady

Gregory. It produces new Yeats play nearly every year. 1906, under new

constitution, Yeats, Lady Gregory and J. M. Synge appointed directors.

Yeats remains director until his death. The founding of the Abbey,in his

own words ‘a small dingy and impecunious theatre’, marks launching of

dramatic movement making Dublin important literary capital in century's

1st quarter. Yeats takes firm stand against clerics and nationalists,

quarrelling over theatre's political and moral role.

Yeats above all, a great poet. An American lecture tour (1903–4)

establishes his reputation. 1913 receives Civil List pension of £150 a year,

but 1915 refuses knighthood Year later proposes again to Maud Gonne, now

a widow since execution of her husband John MacBride, for his part in the

Rising. Refused yet again. Greatest achievement in poetry came with

publication of 4 vols between 1919-33. The Wild Swans at Coole (1919),

Michael Robartes, the Dancer (1921), The Tower (1928), and the Winding

Stair (1933). Several poems written in honour of the executed leaders of

1916 Rising, some of whom had been fellow-workers in literary movement.

1917 Yeats marries Georgie Hyde-Lees (twice hios age). Marriage

changes life and Georgie influences his poetry. In A Vision (1925),full of

symbolism, sets out his ideas on mankind and art, framework of later

poems. Two children born, Anne in 1919, and Michael in 1921. 1922 buys

Thoor Ballylee, small derelict tower-house in Co. Galway, close to Lady

Gregory’s home, and 82 Merrion Square,fine Georgian house in Dublin.

Made Senator, Irish Free State by President Cosgrave Plays active

Senate role. Chaired committee, design of new coinage. Later made

remarkable contribution to divorce debate, including noble defence of Irish

Protestant tradition with he strongly identified. Received honorary degrees

from Queen’s University College Belfast and University College Dublin.

1923 awardedNobel Prize for Literature 1932 co-founded with George

Bernard Shaw Irish Academy of Letters, promotion of Irish creative.

1920s, health began to fail. On medical advice spends winters in

Italy and France from 1927 on. One of last major literary undertakings ;

editorship of controversial Oxford Book of Modern Verse, 1892–1935

(1936). Despite age and ill-health, output remarkable, especially powerful

New Poems (1938) and Last Poems (1938–9). Late 1938 winter leaves

Ireland for Riviera in failing health. Dies at Roquebrune, Cap Martin, south

of France on 28 Jan 1939. Remains brought back to Ireland 1948 Re-

interred in churchyard of his grandfather’s parish at Drumcliff, Co. Sligo.

W. B Yeats

Constance Markevicz Pages

William Butler Yeats was born in Dublin on the 13th of June 1865, the son of

John Butler Yeats, barrister turned portrait painter, and Susan Pollexfen,

daughter of a wealthy (mills and shipping) Sligo family. Yeats's early years were spent between Dublin, London, and Sligo, attending schools in London and

Dublin before entering the Metropolitan School of Art. However, he was

increasingly drawn to writing through his admiration for the works of Samuel

Ferguson and James Clarence Mangan.