The Celtic Twilight: Faerie and Folklore

William Butler Yeats (1865–1939) who is best known for his poems was a passionate defender of Irish folklore. Yeats was particularly drawn to the mythic and mystical underpinnings of the stories. The world of fae ghosts and spirits is explored in The Celtic Twilight which is both spooky and humorous. It was first published in 1893 under the title This handful of dreams which alludes to the early morning hours when the Druids conducted their ceremonies. It comprises of tales that the poets friends neighbours and acquaintances have related to him. Yeats faithfully transcribed their stories adding his own visionary experiences as a type of commentary after the storytellers words.