The Gonne-Yeats Letters 1893-1938

This very interesting collection documents the lengthy platonic love affair between Irish poet and dramatist William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) and Irish nationalist Maude Gonne (1865-1953), which began when both were in their 20s and lasted until Yeats's death--despite Gonne's 1903 marriage to and subsequent divorce from John MacBride. Jeffares ( W. B. Yeats: Man and Poet ) and Gonne's granddaughter White have edited and supplied introductory material for the letters, most written by Gonne to Yeats. Principal subjects include the couple's mutual interest in mysticism, the Irish literary revival, their political differences (she was an activist committed to Irish independence at any price; he was a moderate) and their ``spiritual marriage''p27 --Gonne, who disliked sexual love, repeatedly turned down Yeats's offers of a more conventional union. The collection provides primary source material for Irish and literary historians. ( Dec. )