YEATS, WILLIAM BUTLER | The Countess Kathleen and Various Legends and Lyrics. London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1892

The Property of a Gentleman

YEATS, WILLIAM BUTLER

The Countess Kathleen and Various Legends and Lyrics. London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1892

8vo (4 3/8 x 7 3/5 in.; 112 x 188 mm). Half-title and frontispiece by J.T. Nettleship. Green boards with yapped edges, upper board with Nettleship design printed in black, cream colored paper spine lettered in indigo, edges uncut, original dustjacket; spine lightly sunned, minor foxing to endleaves and fore-edge. In custom cream and blue linen clamshell case.

First edition, one of 500 copies, with dustjacket — a fine copy

"I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,

And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;

Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,

And live alone in the bee-loud glade..."

The present volume represents Yeats's second collection of poetry. In addition the play The Countess Kathleen, the collection includes some of Yeats’ finest early lyrics, including “The Lake Isle of Innisfree,” “When You Are Old,” and “The Man Who Dreamed of Faeryland.” The work is dedicated to his long-time love, Maud Gonne, and many of the poems reflect Yeats's burgeoning interests in alchemy and esotericism.

REFERENCES

Wade 6