William Butler Yeats was one of the most important and innovative writers of the twentieth century. Yeats’ early writings drew heavily on Celtic myth and legend, while his later work, including the seminal collection The Tower, was more modernist in style and theme. Throughout, however, his work was characterised by rich lyricism and imagery, inspired, in part, by his family background – both his father, John, and his brother, Jack, were important painters.

Yeats is considered Ireland’s national poet. He was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival and a founding member of Ireland’s national theatre, the Abbey, as well as a Senator in the first Irish Senate. He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1923 for what the Nobel Committee described as his "inspired poetry, which in a highly artistic form gives expression to the spirit of a whole nation." The first Irishman to be so honoured, in his acceptance letter, Yeats wrote that ‘I consider that this honour has come to me less as an individual than as a representative of Irish literature, it is part of Europe's welcome to the Free State.’

You can find out more about Yeats life and work by visiting the William Butler Yeats online exhibition at the National Library of Ireland.