William Butler Yeats, born on June 13, 1865, in Sandymount, Ireland, grew up in a family with artistic leanings. His father, John Butler Yeats, initially pursued a career in law before turning to painting, while his mother, Susan Mary Pollexfen Yeats, hailed from a family with deep Irish roots. This upbringing, within the Protestant Anglo-Irish community—a minority yet influential in Ireland—profoundly shaped Yeats's identity and artistic pursuits. Unlike many of his peers who viewed England as their true homeland, Yeats embraced his Irish heritage wholeheartedly, weaving tales of Irish heroes and heroines into his literary works.

Childhood and Education

Yeats's formative years were marked by a lackluster academic performance, as he was more captivated by the allure of the Irish landscape than by textbooks. Though much of his early life was spent in London, frequent visits to Ireland allowed him to immerse himself in the rich tapestry of Irish folklore and legends shared by his relatives. Between 1884 and 1886, he attended art school in Dublin, eventually realizing that his true calling lay not in painting but in writing.

Early Literary Endeavors

In 1885, Yeats made his literary debut with the publication of a poem in The Dublin University Review. By 1889, he had released his first poetic collection, The Wanderings of Oisin, which garnered praise from notable figures like Oscar Wilde, as recounted in Yeats's Autobiographies. Over the next decade, he became a pivotal figure in the Irish Literary Society and the National Literary Society, passionately advocating for Irish literary and cultural independence from England. Although his fervor for political action diminished toward the century's end—due to increasing violence—his dedication to Irish themes in his writings remained unwavering.

Interest in Mysticism

In his twenties, Yeats developed a profound interest in the mystical and occult, which would influence much of his later work. He joined the Theosophical Society, led by Madame Blavatsky, a group exploring mysticism and claims of divine insight. Additionally, he was initiated into the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a society founded by MacGregor Mathers that delved into esoteric and magical practices.

Dramatic Contributions and Collaborations

Yeats's literary contributions were not confined to poetry; he also made significant strides in drama. In the early 1890s, he penned plays such as The Countess Kathleen and Cathleen ni Houlihan, both reflecting his nationalistic sentiments. Collaborating with Lady Augusta Gregory at the turn of the century, Yeats played a crucial role in establishing the Irish National Theatre Society and revitalizing Dublin's Abbey Theatre. These efforts culminated in a flourishing Irish theatrical movement, with Yeats at its helm until approximately 1915. His reflections on his life's early years were published as Reveries Over Childhood and Youth in 1915, part of a series that would later form his comprehensive Autobiographies in 1955.

Personal Life and Later Recognition

Yeats's personal life was marked by a long, unrequited love for Maude Gonne, an Irish nationalist known for her beauty and fervor for independence. In 1917, at an older age, Yeats married Georgiana Hyde-Lees, a fellow member of the Golden Dawn, with whom he fathered two children. His literary achievements were internationally recognized in 1923 when he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Yeats passed away in Roquebrune, France, in 1939, but his remains were interred in Sligo, Ireland, the land of his ancestors, in 1948.