W. B. Yeats and the Language of Sculpture

This book explores the relationship between literature and sculpture in the work of W. B. Yeats, using archival research to offer new readings of the poet's engagement with Celtic Revival statuary, public monuments, coin designs, abstract sculpture, and various carvings and objets d'art. It documents Yeats's lifelong interest in the plastic arts and provides fresh insights into his poetry, drama, and prose criticism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

This captivating book delves into the intricate relationship between literature and sculpture in the remarkable work of W. B. Yeats, utilizing extensive archival research to unveil fresh and insightful interpretations of the poet's oeuvre. Spanning a vast artistic landscape, the book explores Yeats's literary and critical engagement with a diverse array of artistic mediums, including Celtic Revival statuary, public monuments in Dublin, the coin designs of the Irish Free State, abstract sculpture by the Vorticists and modernists, as well as a wide range of carvings, decorative sculptures, and objets d'art. Through a meticulous tracing of Yeats's early art school education in Dublin, his efforts to secure funds for public monuments in the city, and his patronage of his favorite sculptors, the book unveils a lifelong passion for the plastic arts. As a result, this meticulously inter-arts and interdisciplinary study yields new and original readings of Yeats's poetry, drama, and prose criticism, shedding light on the profound ways in which art influenced his creative process and vice versa. This captivating exploration of the interplay between literature and sculpture is a testament to the enduring legacy of W. B. Yeats and his profound contribution to the world of art.

Weight: 494g
Dimension: 165 x 240 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192843159