W. B. Yeats in Context

This book explores Yeats' background and influences, as well as how his works shaped early twentieth-century Irish culture.

David Holdeman (Edited by), Ben Levitas (Edited by)

9781107456808, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 17 December 2015

460 pages
23 x 15.3 x 2.5 cm, 0.67 kg

W. B. Yeats is a writer who requires, and at the same time tests the limits of, contextual study. More than perhaps any other Irish writer, he produced his own context as much as it produced him. His cultural and political activities, combined with his prolific literary output, made an impact that can only be understood by close attention to his words in relation to the times in which he lived. W. B. Yeats in Context maps Yeats' world in concise, lively essays by distinguished critics and historians. The places, people, themes and intellectual frameworks most important to his development receive close attention, as do his artistic influences, and the production and reception of his work. As a gateway into the study of Yeats, this volume offers much new information for both students, scholars and anyone interested in the life and times of this enigmatic and influential poet.

Introduction David Holdeman and Ben Levitas
Part I. Times: 1. Church, state, childhood, and youth, 1865–85 W. J. McCormack
2. The fin de siècle, 1885–97 Stephen Regan
3. Anger management, 1898–1913 Adrian Frazier
4. War, 1914–23 Ben Levitas
5. The Irish Free State and the European crisis, 1924–39 Paul Scott Stanfield
Part II. Places: 6. Sligo David Fitzpatrick
7. London Timothy Webb
8. Dublin Anthony Roche
9. Galway: Coole and Ballylee Jonathan Allison
Part III. Personalities: 10. John Butler Yeats Douglas Archibald
11. Maud Gonne Karen Steele
12. Lady Gregory Judith Hill
13. J. M. Synge Nicholas Grene
14. Ezra Pound Catherine E. Paul
15. George Yeats Margaret Mills Harper
Part IV. Themes: 16. Class and eugenics Donald J. Childs
17. Nationalism and postcolonialism David Lloyd
18. Gender Vicki Mahaffey
19. Aesthetics James Pethica
20. Fascism R. F. Foster
Part V. Philosophies: 21. The Church in Ireland: Protestant and Catholic Nicholas Allen
22. Occultism Timothy Materer
23. Folklore Sinéad Garrigan Mattar
24. Indian thought Shalini Sikka
25. Nietzsche Michael Valdez Moses
26. Classical philosophy Matthew Gibson
27. Landscape, family, eighteenth-century Ireland Jefferson Holdridge
Part VI. Arts: 28. Nineteenth-century Irish poetry Phillip L. Marcus
29. The English Romantic Symbolists Matthew Campbell
30. Modern poetry James Longenbach
31. Theatrical culture Richard Cave
32. The visual arts Elizabeth Bergmann Loizeaux
33. Modern fiction Frank Shovlin
Part VII. Reception: 34. Manuscripts and revisions David Holdeman
35. Publishers and the material text George Bornstein
36. Critical debate, 1939–70 Edna Longley
37. Critical debate, 1970–2006 Rob Doggett
38. Popular culture Geraldine Higgins
Guide to further reading
Index.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: from c 1900 - [DSBH], Literary studies: general [DSB], Literature: history & criticism [DS], Literature & literary studies [D]