The Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats, Vol. 6 (of 8) Ideas of Good and Evil

This volume gathers a series of Yeats’s early essays and journal‑like musings, offering a window into the mind of a poet still shaping his artistic identity. He wrestles with the notions of good and evil, not as abstract philosophy but as forces that color the language of verse. The pieces capture his restless search for a voice that could belong both to Ireland and to a broader, timeless tradition.

In his reflections on “popular poetry,” Yeats critiques the shallow patriotism of his contemporaries while championing a style that melds native folklore with the musicality of the broader European canon. He recounts his experiments with Shelley, Spenser, and Hugo, describing how their influences sparked his own desire to forge a uniquely Irish lyricism. Nature, too, appears as a restless teacher, urging him to strip away pretension and let raw energy shape his work.

The prose is intimate yet incisive, blending personal anecdotes with sharp literary commentary. Listeners will hear the early convictions that later defined a generation of poets, making this collection a compelling portrait of a writer in the throes of artistic discovery.