WB Yeats, The Poet Behind Things Fall Apart’s Inspiration
Born on 13 June 1865, WB Yeats was an Irish poet, dramatist, and prose writer. He was one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature and was highly respected in his field. He published over 30 poetry collections over his lifetime.
In 1923, he received the Nobel Prize for his achievements and contribution to literature. He was also the first person from Ireland to receive the prize, and also one of the most popular Irish authors.
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He was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival and became a pillar of the Irish literary establishment who helped to found the Abbey Theatre. Some of his most popular poems include Lida and the Swan, Death, Easter 1916, and The Second Coming, which inspired pioneer Nigerian author Chinua Achebe’s novel title, “Things Fall Apart”.
Here’s an excerpt from WB Yeats’ The Second Coming:
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Yeats died on 28 January 1939.
