William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) was an Irish poet, dramatist, and prose writer. A pillar of the Irish literary renaissance, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923.

Biography

Category	Details
Full Name	William Butler Yeats
Date of Birth	June 13, 1865
Place of Birth	Dublin, Ireland
Date of Death	January 28, 1939
Occupation	Poet, Dramatist, Prose Writer
Notable Works	“The Tower”, “The Winding Stair”, “The Second Coming”
Nobel Prize	Literature, 1923
Influences	Irish Mythology, Mysticism, Occultism
Legacy	Considered one of the greatest poets of the 20th century, co-founder of the Abbey Theatre

Early Life

William Butler Yeats, one of the most significant figures in 20th-century literature, was born on June 13, 1865, in Sandymount, Dublin, Ireland. He was raised in a culturally vibrant environment, influenced by his father, John Butler Yeats, a well-known painter, and his mother, Susan Mary Pollexfen, who hailed from a wealthy merchant family in Sligo. Yeats spent much of his early childhood in both Dublin and Sligo, the latter of which had a profound impact on his imagination and future literary work. In 1874, the Yeats family moved to London, where William attended the Godolphin School and later the Erasmus Smith High School. Despite the geographical shifts, Yeats maintained a deep connection to Ireland, frequently visiting Sligo, which he often referred to as his spiritual home.

Family

Name	Relation	Information
John Butler Yeats	Father	John Butler Yeats was an Irish artist and portrait painter known for his works in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Susan Mary Pollexfen	Mother	Susan Mary Pollexfen came from a wealthy merchant family in Sligo, Ireland. She married John Butler Yeats in 1863.
Susan Mary “Lily” Yeats	Sister	Lily Yeats was an embroiderer and co-founder of the Dun Emer Press, which later became the Cuala Press, known for its hand-printed books.
Elizabeth Corbet “Lolly” Yeats	Sister	Lolly Yeats was a publisher and co-founder of the Cuala Press, which published many works by prominent Irish writers, including her brother William.
John “Jack” Butler Yeats	Brother	Jack Butler Yeats was an acclaimed painter and illustrator, and he is considered one of Ireland’s most significant artists of the 20th century.
Robert Corbet Yeats	Brother	Robert Yeats had a lower public profile compared to his siblings, and little is documented about his life and career.

Height, Weight, And Other Body Measurements

Attribute	Measurement
Height	Not Documented
Weight	Not Documented
Body Measurements	Not Documented
Eye Color	Blue
Hair Color	Dark Brown

Note: Detailed physical measurements of Wiliam Butler Yeats are not well-documented in historical records.

Wife/husband / Girlfriend/boyfriend

William Butler Yeats is not currently in a relationship as he passed away on January 28, 1939. However, during his lifetime, he was married to Georgie Hyde-Lees.

Wife Details: Georgie Hyde-Lees was an English writer and the wife of W.B. Yeats. She was also known for her interest in mysticism and automatic writing, which deeply influenced Yeats’ later works.

William Butler Yeats had several significant relationships before his marriage to Georgie Hyde-Lees. Below is a table of his known romantic relationships:

Name	Relationship Type	Details
Maud Gonne	Romantic Interest	Maud Gonne was an Irish actress and revolutionary. Yeats was infatuated with her and proposed to her multiple times, but she never accepted.
Olivia Shakespear	Romantic Relationship	Olivia Shakespear was an English novelist and playwright. She had a brief romantic relationship with Yeats in the late 1890s.
Florence Farr	Close Friend/Colleague	Florence Farr was an actress and a member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. She shared a close and intellectually stimulating friendship with Yeats.

Career, Achievements And Controversies

William Butler Yeats became famous through his contributions to poetry, drama, and literature. His unique style and ability to blend Irish myth with contemporary issues earned him a prominent place in literary history. His involvement in the Irish Literary Revival and the founding of the Abbey Theatre also bolstered his fame.

Yeats’ career started in the late 19th century when he began publishing poetry influenced by Romanticism and Irish mythology. Some of his popular works include:

• “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” (1890) – A lyrical poem that reflects his longing for peace and natural beauty.
• “The Second Coming” (1919) – A modernist poem reflecting the disillusionment of the post-World War I era.
• “A Vision” (1925) – A philosophical work that explores his complex metaphysical system.
• “The Tower” (1928) – A collection of poems that includes some of his most mature and reflective works.

William Butler Yeats received several prestigious awards and recognitions throughout his career, including:

• Nobel Prize in Literature (1923) – Awarded for his inspired poetry, which gave expression to the spirit of a whole nation.
• He was appointed to the Irish Senate (1922-1928) – Recognizing his significant contributions to Irish culture and politics.

Despite his acclaim, Yeats was not without controversy. Some of the notable controversies include:

• Political Views: Yeats’ political views evolved over time, and he was often criticized for his flirtation with Fascism and his support for authoritarian figures.
• Occult Involvement: His deep interest in mysticism, the occult, and secret societies, such as the Golden Dawn, raised eyebrows among his contemporaries.
• Personal Relationships: Yeats’ intense and often unrequited love for Maud Gonne, as well as his turbulent marriage to Georgie Hyde-Lees, were subjects of public scrutiny.

William Butler Yeats remains a towering figure in the world of literature, celebrated for his profound contributions to poetry and drama, despite the controversies that surrounded his life.

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