Skip to Main Content (Press Enter)
When You Are Old by William Butler Yeats
Add When You Are Old to bookshelf
Add to Bookshelf

Look Inside

When You Are Old

Early Poems, Plays, and Fairy Tales

Early Poems and Fairy Tales

Early Poems, Plays, and Fairy Tales

By William Butler Yeats
Introduction by Rob Doggett
Edited by Rob Doggett

By William Butler Yeats
Introduction by Rob Doggett
Edited by Rob Doggett

By William Butler Yeats
Illustrated by Jessica Hische
Edited by Rob Doggett

By William Butler Yeats
Illustrated by Jessica Hische
Edited by Rob Doggett

By William Butler Yeats
Introduction by Rob Doggett
Edited by Rob Doggett

By William Butler Yeats
Introduction by Rob Doggett
Edited by Rob Doggett

Best Seller

Part of Penguin Drop Caps

Paperback $19.00

Jun 09, 2015 | ISBN 9780143107644

Hardcover $25.00

Sep 24, 2014 | ISBN 9780143126386

Ebook $5.99

Jun 09, 2015 | ISBN 9780698194373

All Formats
+
    When You Are Old by William Butler Yeats
    Paperback $19.00
    Jun 09, 2015 | ISBN 9780143107644

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    See All Formats (2) +

    Paperback
    –

    • Paperback $19.00

      Jun 09, 2015 | ISBN 9780143107644

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    Hardcover
    +

    • Hardcover $25.00

      Sep 24, 2014 | ISBN 9780143126386

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    Ebook
    +

    • Ebook

      Jun 09, 2015 | ISBN 9780698194373

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    Buy the Ebook:

    About When You Are Old

    Beautiful early writings by one of the 20th century’s greatest poets on the 150th anniversary of his birth

    A Penguin Classic

    The poems, prose, and drama gathered in When You Are Old present a fresh portrait of the Nobel Prize–winning writer as a younger man: the 1890s aesthete who dressed as a dandy, collected Irish folklore, dabbled in magic, and wrote heartrending poems for his beloved, the beautiful, elusive Irish revolutionary Maud Gonne. Included here are such celebrated, lyrical poems as “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” and “He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven,” as well as Yeats’s imaginative retellings of Irish fairytales—including his first major poem, “The Wanderings of Oisin,” based on a Celtic fable—and his critical writings, which offer a fascinating window onto his artistic theories. Through these enchanting works, readers will encounter Yeats as the mystical, lovelorn bard and Irish nationalist popular during his own lifetime.

    For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

    About When You Are Old

    From A to Z, the Penguin Drop Caps series collects 26 unique hardcovers—featuring cover art by Jessica Hische

    It all begins with a letter. Fall in love with Penguin Drop Caps, a new series of twenty-six collectible and hardcover editions, each with a type cover showcasing a gorgeously illustrated letter of the alphabet. In a design collaboration between Jessica Hische and Penguin Art Director Paul Buckley, the series features unique cover art by Hische, a superstar in the world of type design and illustration, whose work has appeared everywhere from Tiffany & Co. to Wes Anderson’s recent film Moonrise Kingdom to Penguin’s own bestsellers Committed and Rules of Civility. With exclusive designs that have never before appeared on Hische’s hugely popular Daily Drop Cap blog, the Penguin Drop Caps series debuted with an ‘A’ for Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, a ‘B’ for Charlotte Brönte’s Jane Eyre, and a ‘C’ for Willa Cather’s My Ántonia. It continues with more perennial classics, perfect to give as elegant gifts or to showcase on your own shelves.

    Y is for Yeats. A specially compiled edition for the Penguin Drop Caps series, When You Are Old will include the most accessible, best-known poems by W.B. Yeats from his early years that made the Nobel Prize winning writer and poet popular in his day.  The volume will include all the major love poems written most notably for the brilliant yet elusive Irish revolutionary Maude Gonne. Recalling Yeats’s 1890s fascination in  aestheticism and the arts and crafts movement, selections will draw from the first published versions of poems from works such as Crossways, The Rose, The Wind Among the Reeds, In the Seven Woods, The Green Helmet and Other Poems, Responsibilities, The Wild Swans at Coole, and Michael Robartes and the Dancer. A selection Irish myths and fairytales including “The Wanderings of Oisin,” a Celtic fable and his first major poem, represent his fascination with mysticism, spiritualism and the rich and imaginative heritage of his native land.  

    About When You Are Old

    From A to Z, the Penguin Drop Caps series collects 26 unique hardcovers—featuring cover art by Jessica Hische

    It all begins with a letter. Fall in love with Penguin Drop Caps, a new series of twenty-six collectible and hardcover editions, each with a type cover showcasing a gorgeously illustrated letter of the alphabet. In a design collaboration between Jessica Hische and Penguin Art Director Paul Buckley, the series features unique cover art by Hische, a superstar in the world of type design and illustration, whose work has appeared everywhere from Tiffany & Co. to Wes Anderson’s recent film Moonrise Kingdom to Penguin’s own bestsellers Committed and Rules of Civility. With exclusive designs that have never before appeared on Hische’s hugely popular Daily Drop Cap blog, the Penguin Drop Caps series debuted with an ‘A’ for Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, a ‘B’ for Charlotte Brönte’s Jane Eyre, and a ‘C’ for Willa Cather’s My Ántonia. It continues with more perennial classics, perfect to give as elegant gifts or to showcase on your own shelves.

    Y is for Yeats. A specially compiled edition for the Penguin Drop Caps series, When You Are Old will include the most accessible, best-known poems by W.B. Yeats from his early years that made the Nobel Prize winning writer and poet popular in his day.  The volume will include all the major love poems written most notably for the brilliant yet elusive Irish revolutionary Maude Gonne. Recalling Yeats’s 1890s fascination in  aestheticism and the arts and crafts movement, selections will draw from the first published versions of poems from works such as Crossways, The Rose, The Wind Among the Reeds, In the Seven Woods, The Green Helmet and Other Poems, Responsibilities, The Wild Swans at Coole, and Michael Robartes and the Dancer. A selection Irish myths and fairytales including “The Wanderings of Oisin,” a Celtic fable and his first major poem, represent his fascination with mysticism, spiritualism and the rich and imaginative heritage of his native land.  

    Also by William Butler Yeats

    The Playboy of the Western World and Two Other Irish Plays
    See all books by William Butler Yeats

    Also by William Butler Yeats

    The Playboy of the Western World and Two Other Irish Plays
    See all books by William Butler Yeats

    Also by William Butler Yeats

    The Playboy of the Western World and Two Other Irish Plays
    See all books by William Butler Yeats

    About William Butler Yeats

    William Butler Yeats (1865–1939) was born in Dublin. Yeats was educated in London and in Dublin, but he spent his summers in the west of Ireland in the family’s summer house at Connaught. The young Yeats was very much part of… More about William Butler Yeats

    About William Butler Yeats

    William Butler Yeats (1865–1939) was born in Dublin. Yeats was educated in London and in Dublin, but he spent his summers in the west of Ireland in the family’s summer house at Connaught. The young Yeats was very much part of… More about William Butler Yeats

    About Jessica Hische

    Jessica Hische grew up in Pennsylvania. She currently lives in San Francisco, where she works as a letterer, illustrator, type designer, and relentless procrastiworker. Clients include Wes Anderson, Dave Eggers, The New York Times, Tiffany & Co., OXFAM America, McSweeney’s, American Express,… More about Jessica Hische

    About William Butler Yeats

    William Butler Yeats (1865–1939) was born in Dublin. Yeats was educated in London and in Dublin, but he spent his summers in the west of Ireland in the family’s summer house at Connaught. The young Yeats was very much part of… More about William Butler Yeats

    Product Details

    Category: Poetry | Fairy Tales | Fiction Classics

    Paperback | $19.00
    Published by Penguin Classics
    Jun 09, 2015 | 368 Pages | 5-1/16 x 7-3/4 | ISBN 9780143107644

    Category: Poetry | Fairy Tales

    Hardcover | $25.00
    Published by Penguin Books
    Sep 24, 2014 | 336 Pages | 5-1/8 x 7-1/2 | ISBN 9780143126386

    Category: Poetry | Fairy Tales | Fiction Classics

    Ebook | $5.99
    Published by Penguin Classics
    Jun 09, 2015 | 336 Pages | ISBN 9780698194373
    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

    Praise

    By the Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature

    Looking for More Great Reads?
    21 Books You’ve Been Meaning to Read
    Get the latest updates about William Butler Yeats
    And go from well-read to best read with book recs, deals and more in your inbox every week.
    And go from well-read to best read with book recs, deals and more in your inbox every week.
    By clicking SIGN UP, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and understand that Penguin Random House collects certain categories of personal information for the purposes listed in that policy, discloses, sells, or shares certain personal information and retains personal information in accordance with the policy. You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime.
    Dismiss
    Thanks!
    Something awesome is on its way.
    Back to Top

    Visit other sites in the Penguin Random House Network

    Raise kids who love to read

    Brightly

    Raise kids who love to read
    Today's Top Books

    Today's Top Books

    Want to know what people are actually reading right now?
    An online magazine for today’s home cook

    TASTE

    An online magazine for today’s home cook