William Butler Yeats

William Butler Yeats (June 13, 1865 – January 28, 1939) was an Irish poet, dramatist, mystic and public figure. Yeats was one of the driving forces behind the Irish Literary Revival and was co-founder of the Abbey Theatre.

Related Topics:
June 13 - 1865 - January 28 - 1939 - Irish poet - Dramatist - Mystic - Irish Literary Revival - Abbey Theatre

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His early work tended towards a romantic lushness and fantasy-like quality best described by the title of his 1893 collection The Celtic Twilight, but in his 40s, inspired by his relationships with modernist poets such as Ezra Pound and his active involvement in Irish nationalist politics, he moved towards a harder, more modern style.

Related Topics:
1893 - Modernist - Ezra Pound - Irish nationalist

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As well as his role as member of the board of the Abbey, Yeats served as an Irish Senator. He took his role as a public figure seriously and was a reasonably hard-working member of the Seanad. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1923 for what the Nobel Committee described as "his always inspired poetry, which in a highly artistic form gives expression to the spirit of a whole nation". In 1934 he shared the Gothenburg Prize for Poetry with Rudyard Kipling.

Related Topics:
Senator - Nobel Prize for literature - 1923 - Gothenburg Prize for Poetry - Rudyard Kipling

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~