The Passions of William Butler Yeats

Up until the early 20th century, contemporary Irish literature barely existed in the world's imagination. Everyone looked to England for great literature. One man changed all that: William Butler Yeats set out to revive Irish literature. Countering the clichés and caricature that was the outward face of Irish culture to the uninitiated, Yeats' poetry and plays drew upon Celtic mythology and unleashed a distinctive Irish voice. The motivations driving this creative force were manifold, but unrequited love was central to Yeats' contributions.