Yeats: The Man and the Masks

Richard Ellmann's *Yeats: The Man and the Masks* stands as a classic critical examination of one of the 20th century's most influential and enigmatic poets, W.B. Yeats. As the description notes, Yeats's life was profoundly complex, an intricate tapestry of both inner and outer events that eluded easy explanation. Ellmann masterfully navigates the poet's often-contradictory facets, exploring how his deep mystical concerns—including his involvement with spiritualism and the intricate system of *A Vision*—coexisted and occasionally clashed with his active engagement in Irish public affairs. In this seminal work, Ellmann brilliantly "strips away the masks" of his subject, revealing the man behind roles such as occultist, Senator of the Irish Free State, the 'libidinous old man,' and Nobel Prize winner. This pioneering biography rightly belongs on any list of Richard Ellmann's best works, not only for its incisive analysis of Yeats but also for establishing Ellmann's reputation as a preeminent literary biographer. Published in 1948, *Yeats: The Man and the Masks* was a groundbreaking study that set a new standard for Yeats scholarship, offering unprecedented insight into the poet's psychological landscape and the interplay between his life and his art. It showcases Ellmann's characteristic blend of meticulous research, empathetic understanding, and compelling prose, laying the foundation for his later monumental biographies. This book remains an indispensable resource for understanding Yeats, and a testament to Ellmann's enduring skill in illuminating the complexities of literary genius.