Becoming George: The Life of Mrs W. B. Yeats

Ann Saddlemyer's biography of W. B. Yeats's wife, George, portrays an extraordinarily talented, intelligent, and self-effacing woman, whose creative influence has never before been fully understood. She was wife and manager of a famous poet, and mother to his children, but in her own right also an inspired visionary and a practical woman of the arts. Georgie Hyde Lees was raised in London's literary salons, where arts, anthroposophy and the occult met. An accomplished linguist, art student and literary scholar, she married W. B. Yeats when she was 25, and he 52. Her supernatural "automatic writing" became the inspiration of Yeats's poetry and thought for the last 20 years of his life, yet she always concealed the depth of their collaboration. Close friend of many writers and poets, among them Frank O'Connor and Ezra Pound, she spent her long widowhood steering the "Yeats industry" and actively assisting younger scholars and writers. For the first time, this intelligent and creative woman is allowed to take center stage. Drawing on memoirs and a wealth of unknown and unpublished sources, this biography by the distinguished scholar Ann Saddlemyer reveals someone much more significant than just '"Mrs. W. B. Yeats"--a personality at once visionary and practical, and an important figure in twentieth-century literary history. I, the poet William Yeats, ' With old mill boards and sea-green slates, ' And smithy work from the Gort forge, ' Restored this tower for my wife George; ' And may these characters remain ' When all is ruin once again.' With this lovely six-line poem, W.B. Yeats dedicated the renovation of Thoor Ballylee to his wife. But the poem's truth conceals another, and different truth - that they worked together at the restoration, and it was largely her vision and hands that created a dwelling from the former ruins. Just how symbolic this is, of the close but largely hidden collaboration between them, is revealed by this deeply-researched life of George Yeats - the first full-scale biography of a woman of remarkable gifts and generous self-concealment. Raised in the decades before the First War, in London literary salons where the arts and occult met, Georgie Hyde Lees became an art student, accomplished linguist, and serious scholar of medieval arcana, anthroposophy, and astrology. She was a lifelong friend of Ezra Pound and his wife Dorothy Shakespear, in whose social circle Yeats also moved; he sponsored her initiation to the Order of the Golden Dawn.; In 1917 they married (she was 25, he 52), and on their honeymoon Georgie began the automatic writing which formed the substance of A Vision, and from which sprang the ideas that occupied Yeats for the rest of his life. Her 'extrasensory' perceptions fed his poetic imagery as her practicality and warmth supplied the environment for his writing. As with the restoration of Ballylee, they were intimate collaborators - but her instinct was always for self-effacement. Though valued by numerous writer-friends (among them Lennox Robinson, Thomas McGreevy, and Frank O'Connor) as a perceptive critic - and known to have written two plays and a novel, which she suppressed - she deliberately hid her talents from public view. Her choice was to appear as Yeats's wife, helpmeet, and secretary, the mother of his children - and for thirty years after his death the tireless overseer of his literary legacy and a knowledgeable adviser to generations of younger critics and writers. For the first time, this intelligent and creative woman is allowed to take centre stage.; Drawing on memoirs and a wealth of unknown and unpublished sources, this biography by the distinguished scholar Ann Saddlemyer reveals someone much more significant than just 'Mrs W.B. Yeats' - a personality at once visionary and practical, and an important figure in twentieth-century literary history 'i, The Poet William Yeats ... Restored This Tower For My Wife George' Claims The Lovely Six-line Poem In Which Yeats Dedicates The Renovation Of Thoor Ballylee. But The Poem's Truth Conceals Another, And Different Truth - That They Worked Together At The Restoration, And It Was Largely Her Vision And Hands That Created A Dwelling From The Former Ruins. Just How Symbolic This Is, Of The Close But Largely Hidden Collaboration Between Them, Is Revealed By This Deeply-researched Life Of George Yeats - The First Full-scale Biography Of A Woman Of Remarkable Gifts And Generous Self Concealment. For The First Time, This Woman Is Allowed To Take Centre Stage. Drawing On Memoirs And A Wealth Of Unknown And Unpublished Sources, This Biography By The Distinguished Scholar Ann Saddlemyer Reveals Someone Much More Significant Than Just 'mrs. W.b. Yeats' - A Personality At Once Visionary And Practical, And An Important Figure In Twentieth-century Literary History.--jacket. Family Tree -- Prelude: Ballylee -- Georgie -- Progressions 1892-1918 -- Ancestry -- Childhood -- Friends -- Studies -- The Golden Dawn -- Forest Row -- London, Oxford, And Dublin -- George -- Conjunctions 1919-1921 -- Coole -- Anne -- Oxford And New York -- Michael -- Directions 1922-1928 -- Ballylee -- Merrion Square -- Dublin -- Transits 1929-1939 -- Rapallo -- Fitzwilliam Square -- Riversdale -- Majorca -- Menton -- Mrs W.b. -- Mapping 1939-1968 -- Palmerston Road -- Seekers And Friends -- Postlude: Odysseys -- The Death Of William Gilbert Hyde Lees. Ann Saddlemyer. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [660]-794) And Index.