The Countess Cathleen

Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), 1865-1939Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.8

Word count: 76K words
Chapters: 8

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Countess Cathleen by W. B. YeatsAuthor: Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), 1865-1939,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Feb 1, 2004

Editor's review

The Countess Cathleen is a play by W. B. Yeats, offered here as a free ebook by Project Gutenberg. Yeats was a central figure of the Irish Literary Revival, and this play, set against Irish folklore and moral choice, combines poetic language with dramatic conflict. For readers interested in Yeats's dramatic work, Irish literature, or late nineteenth-century theatrical forms, it is a text worth close reading. The Gutenberg edition is freely accessible and suitable as supplementary course reading or for independent study. Readers may note the poetic rhythm of the dialogue and the symbolic meaning of Countess Cathleen's choices in times of crisis. Since the original is a verse drama in English, readers should have some foundation in English literary reading and consult materials on Irish history. This public-domain ebook contains no modern annotations, so readers may supplement it with relevant introductions.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English literature readers studying Yeats's dramatic work
Those interested in the Irish Literary Revival and folklore
Teachers and students needing a public-domain play script for English drama courses
Learners who want to practice reading verse drama in the English original

Not a good fit for

Readers unfamiliar with English verse drama who need a Chinese translation
Beginners expecting modern annotations and detailed introductions
General readers who prefer prose fiction or fast-paced narrative

Reading tips

Read through the whole play first to grasp the main plot, then return to key monologues and dialogue for their poetic expression.
Read alongside materials on Irish folklore and Yeats's life to understand the play's symbols and moral issues.
If used for a course, assign roles for reading aloud to appreciate the rhythm and character tone of verse drama.
As you read, note the motivation behind each of Countess Cathleen's decisions to trace the ethical conflicts in the play.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this play in verse or prose?

The Countess Cathleen is a dramatic work by Yeats written mainly in poetic language with features of verse drama. Readers should note the rhythm and cadence of the dialogue, which differs from how prose drama is read.

Does the Gutenberg edition include notes or an introduction?

Public-domain ebooks from Project Gutenberg usually contain only the text of the work and generally do not include modern scholarly notes, introductions, or research materials. Readers needing background explanation should consult books on Yeats studies or Irish literary history.

Can I read this book without experience with drama?

You can try, but verse drama requires some English reading ability. It is advisable to learn the plot summary and character relationships first, then read scene by scene; if it feels difficult, use a Chinese translation or related introduction as support.

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About the author

Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), 1865-1939 Author

William Butler Yeats (1865–1939) was an Irish poet and playwright and a major figure in twentieth-century English-language literature. The collection holds thirty-eight of his works, including poetry collections, prose and plays, among them Responsibilities, and other poems, The Wind Among the Reeds, The Wild Swans at Coole, The Celtic Twilight, The Trembling of the Veil, and the multi-volume The Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats. His verse is concise and musical, often drawing on Irish myth, folklore and Celtic culture, and blending symbolism and reflection with the lyric tradition; his style moved from an early romantic and aesthetic manner toward a later, firmer and more austere voice. His writing is closely associated with the Irish literary revival and has deeply influenced modern English poetry. Public information is limited, and this introduction is based mainly on the works held in the collection.