W. B. Yeats

An exploration of the Sidhe and the people of Ireland by the Nobel Prize–winning writer. The renowned Irish poet W. B. Yeats was fascinated by the mystical and the supernatural, as well as Irish culture. The Celtic Twilight combines these interests with stories and commentary that both illustrate the inhabitants of the world of the Fae and examine their meaning in the contexts of individuals’ daily lives, societal belief systems, and Ireland’s history.

Faerie and Folklore

The Celtic Twilight

Sheila Goicea

I'm a sucker for folklore, especially Irish (and Scottish) folklore, because 'tis were my roots lie.

I randomly came across this book while scanning through the Kindle classics store on Amazon. Seeing "Celtic" in the title, I immediately downloaded it, not even reading the description. Just the thought of combining classical literature with Celtic...I couldn't help myself.

For being a conglomeration of short tales, this little book was a delightfully light read. If you are looking for a palette cleanser between books or series, this could be your go-to. It is beautifully and poetically (obviously since Yeats was and is known best for his poetry) written. Not being familiar with Yeats' work before this, it has intrigued me to look into his other literature. 

However mystifying this read was, there was a strong undertone throughout the book of Yeats communication to the reader that the world of magic shouldn't be set within such strict bounds. Maybe, tales of folklore have truth in them, or, were and possibly are true. Maybe there is more to this world than meets the eye, and maybe, we will be pleasantly surprised.


  "If we could love and hate with as good heart as the faeries do, we might grow to be long-lived like them. But until that day their untiring joys and sorrows must ever be one-half of their fascination. Love with them never grows weary, nor can the circles of the stars tire out their dancing feet."


This review can also be viewed on my blog: She's Going Book Crazy

Rooted in myth, occult mysteries, and belief in magic, these enchanting stories from the great Irish poet are populated by a lively cast of sorcerers, fairies, ghosts, and nature spirits.

Ilse

I’ve always been interested in myths and folklore and as such finding this book was a very welcome surprise. I loved every story within (some more than others, of course) and am glad to have learned more about Irish folklore, of which I didn’t knew anything prior. Definitely a big recommendation for anyone interested in this topic!

The Celtic Twilight Faerie and Folklore

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