The Celtic Twilight

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

The Celtic Twilight

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

William Butler Yeats presents a vivid collection of Irish folklore and faery lore from the Celtic Revival era. Blending firsthand anecdotes, myth, and mysticism, this work illuminates rural belief and cultural history, offering a window into the supernatural world of the Irish peasantry.

Summary up to 500 words

In *The Celtic Twilight*, W.B. Yeats curates a rich tapestry of Irish folklore, drawing heavily on the tales of storytellers like Paddy Flynn of Ballisodare. The collection explores the porous boundary between the mortal world and the faery realm, detailing how humans interact with spirits ranging from playful Sidhe to kidnappers who abduct brides and babies. Yeats recounts specific legends, such as the mysterious Dr. Opendon of Sligo, a faery doctor who cured illnesses with spells until his own death, and the family of John Kirwan, believed to be descended from a man and a spirit. The text blends these traditional narratives with Yeats's own visionary experiences, including encounters with winged spirits and divine voices. Through stories of banshees, enchanted woods, and the kidnapping of souls, Yeats argues for the validity of imagination and the necessity of keeping the 'fire' of belief alive. He suggests that denying the supernatural leaves humanity lost in an emptiness, whereas embracing the 'unreason' of faeryland provides a guide for the soul. The book serves as both a record of dying traditions and a plea to preserve the imaginative tradition that once gave unity and design to society. Yeats emphasizes that folk art and old songs carry the collective wisdom of generations, ascending through unbroken dignities to the beginning of the world. By gathering these stories, he participates in a struggle to re-awaken imaginative tradition against a society that has cast it out, ensuring that the voice of wise hope and durable faith does not fall silent.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/william-butler-yeats_celtic-twilight.epub

Local file path

data/epubs/url-246ab4e17dc51485.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-03 00:39 UTC

Categories

• Folklore
• Mythology