In this edition, Yeats' early narrative poems are in a separate section at the end. Elsewhere the order of poems remains largely undisturbed. Changes arise in the inclusion of new poems, some textual emendations and the relocation of certain poems withheld from publication in the poet's lifetime.
W. B. YeatsOriginally published in 1895, this outstanding collection of Irish verse was part of Yeats' campaign to establish a tradition of Irish poetry fit for the dawn of a new age in Ireland's history. In 1895 the thirty-year-old W.B. Yeats, already established as one of Ireland's leading poets and folklorists, published this outstanding collection of Irish verse as part of his campaign to establish a tradition of Irish poetry fit for the dawn of a new age in Ireland's history. Set amid the political turmoil of its time, the book succeeded not only in highlighting the fundamental role of literature in defining national identity; it also created the historical framework that presaged the remarkable literary achievements of Irish writers in the century that followed its publication. The poets featured reflect the richness and breadth of a unique literary tradition, from Oliver Goldsmith to Oscar Wilde. This Routledge Classics edition, complete with a specially commissioned introduction by acclaimed writer and critic John Banville, is essential reading for all who appreciate good literature.
