A Book of Irish Verse (New ed.)

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.