Contents
W. B. Yeats
Writing major Irish poetry and helping establish the Abbey Theatre.
The Wind Among the Reeds · The Tower
- Born
- 13 June 1865
- Birthplace
- Dublin, Ireland
- Died
- 28 January 1939
More people
W. B. Yeats
William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and dramatist whose work moved from folklore and symbolism towards a harder, more concentrated late style. He was also central to Ireland’s literary revival.
Early life
Artistic household
His father was a painter; family life connected Dublin, London and Sligo.
Early interests
Studied art before concentrating on poetry and Irish legend.
Career
- 1880s–1890s
Poetry and folklore
Published verse and collections drawing on Irish traditions.
- 1904
Abbey Theatre
Helped establish the Dublin theatre with collaborators including Lady Gregory.
- 1922–1928
Senator
Served in the Irish Free State’s Senate while continuing to write.
Selected work
The Wind Among the Reeds
An early collection rich in symbolic imagery.
The Tower
Includes Sailing to Byzantium and Leda and the Swan.
The Winding Stair and Other Poems
Late poems on age, history and self-examination.
Beyond work
Marriage
Married Georgie Hyde-Lees in 1917.
Mysticism
Maintained a lifelong interest in occult systems and spiritual inquiry.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗Life and work ↗Photo: George Charles Beresford. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
