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W. B. Yeats: Selected Poems Audiobook
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(4.00) - 1,161 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
William Butler Yeats, the first Irishman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, is not only one of the greatest poets of the twentieth century but one of the most widely read. The landscape, myths, legends, and folklore of his homeland lie at the heart of his poetic imagination, and the unique musicality of Ireland adds to the richness of his verse. But the themes of his poetry are universal and timeless: the conflict between life and death, love and hate, and the meaning of man’s existence in an imperfect world.
This collection includes such favorites as “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” and “When You Are Old,” as well as two of his longer narrative works, “The Old Age of Queen Maeve” and “Baile and Aillinn.” It traces the poet’s artistry from his early days as a dreamy, late-romantic poet into one of the most individual and visionary voices of twentieth-century verse.
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"Heaney's introduction is informative and educational, and his selection of Yeats' poetry is comprehensive. There were some poems I was surprised didn't make his cut, but for the whole, this is a pleasant and readable edition of Yeats' work by another one of Ireland's great poet-sons."
— Shelley (4 out of 5 stars)
W. B. Yeats Listener Reviews
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" Couldn't decide how many stars to give this collection of poems. Some of them I really liked, and a few I didn't like at all. Most were good, so I gave it a 3. "
— Joan, 2/12/2014 -
" a great overview of yeats. as someone who is under-read in poetry these were amazing especially pieces like 'nineteen hundred nineteen' and the other pieces dealing with ireland and specifically the easter rebellion. "
— Richard, 1/23/2014 -
" Beautiful selection of Yeats poetry with useful notes on the context, writing, and also includes poem variations. I love Yeats' dreamy, romantic language. "
— Hannah, 1/15/2014 -
" I can't pretend I understand all the imagery and mythological references, but there are some poems like "I will arise and go to Innisfree" that I just can't get away from. Even what I don't understand is beautiful and touches a part of my soul. "
— Kathleen, 1/12/2014 -
" I probably did not understand half of this, but it's beautiful nonetheless. "
— Ruby, 1/9/2014 -
" With Yeats, I'm always torn between dazzlement and feeling creeped-out. "
— Angela, 12/26/2013 -
" Read this years ago as part of a lit class. Just remembered tonight. What would the fate of literature have been had Maude Gunn loved Yeats? "
— Jean, 12/2/2013 -
" Beautiful poetry. The focus is largely on Irish history, but I think behind that is a genuine search for what is most important in life. Though I appreciated the beautiful language and what I thought the message was, I still felt like much of it went over my head. "
— Leslie, 11/24/2013 -
" This collection of Yeats' poetry, stopping at the year 1914, omits some of his major works. The title should clarify the limitation of years since he really reached his peak as a poet after WWI "
— Joyce, 11/1/2013 -
" One of my favourite English poets! Hats down one of the best there is! This cannot have less than 5 stars in my book. "
— Silverwolf, 10/20/2013 -
" The first poem I learned by heart & my favorite of all times is by this poet. "
— Willa, 8/30/2013 -
" He wished for the Cloths of Heaven. The Man who Dreamed of Faeryland. No Second Troy. Wild Swams at Coole. Meditations in Time of Civil War "only an aching heart, conceives a changless work of art." What Then? "
— TeacherMrLoria, 7/20/2013 -
" If you like Yeats, this book has his best work. If you like poetry but aren't familiar with Yeats, I highly recommend this book. He is an amazing poet. "
— Sara, 7/30/2012 -
" yeats and his wonderful magical dreamy poems never fail to pull me out of my surroundings. "
— Abby, 6/18/2012 -
" My grandma took me to Yeats' house in Ireland when I was 15, and I've been in love with his poetry ever since. "
— Heidi, 11/7/2011 -
" I absolutely love Yeats, and this collection has a number of his best poems. So enjoyable. "
— Anie, 10/7/2011 -
" I adore Yeats poetry. This is a nicely bound and presented collection of Yeats' earlier work. "
— PastAllReason, 8/23/2010 -
" I enjoyed reading it ok. I'm glad I experienced Yeats. Not my style, it's mostly the rhythm of all poetry I enjoy. "
— Mrs., 7/16/2010 -
" My grandma took me to Yeats' house in Ireland when I was 15, and I've been in love with his poetry ever since. "
— Heidi, 9/23/2007
About William Butler Yeats
William Butler Yeats (1865–1939) was an Irish poet and dramatist. Born and educated in Dublin, he studied poetry in his youth and, from an early age, was fascinated by Irish legend and the occult. He was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival. He is generally considered one of the twentieth century’s key English language poets. He was a Symbolist poet, in that he used allusive imagery and symbolic structures throughout his career. In 1923 he was awarded a Nobel Prize in Literature for what the Nobel Committee described as “inspired poetry, which in a highly artistic form gives expression to the spirit of a whole nation.” He was the first Irishman so honored. He is generally considered one of the few writers who completed their greatest works after being awarded the Nobel Prize; such works include The Tower (1928) and The Winding Stair and Other Poems (1929).