Edward Malins & John Purkis 
A Preface to Yeats [PDF ebook] 

The first edition, by the late Edward Malins, of this informative guide to the life and works of one of the most important and difficult poets of the 20th century, has now been extensively revised by John Purkis. It begins by providing biographical details on Yeats, with particular emphasis on his education, his appearance and his characteristics. It then places the poet in his cultural background, discussing the history of Ireland and major ideas which influenced his poetry. This is followed by an updated critical section which includes careful close readings of ten of his poems. The book concludes with an extensive reference section containing information about his many friends and their influence on and connection with particular poems.