The Celtic Twilight: Folklore and the Irish Literary Revival
Emma Russell
Abstract
Ireland's long-standing history as the repressed subject of a colonising power produced a nation permeated by an imperialist culture and lacking a distinct identity. In pursuit of a national ethos, Irish artists, namely W.B Yeats, Lady Gregory and J.M Synge, delved into an almost-lost heritage believed exclusive to the West of Ireland and the peasant population, and adopted it as the basis of a new national identity. Utilising the theories of Benedict Anderson as a framework, this article explores the motives of identity building behind the establishment of Dun Emer-Cuala Press by Elizabeth and W.B Yeats, and the role of independent printing presses in constructing an "imagined community" (Anderson 2006). Throughout this article I will examine the impact of the Literary Revival in shaping the publishing landscape in Ireland, exploring the press’s influence in paving the way for contemporary Irish publishers working independently of large British conglomerates.
Emma Russell
Abstract
Ireland's long-standing history as the repressed subject of a colonising power produced a nation permeated by an imperialist culture and lacking a distinct identity. In pursuit of a national ethos, Irish artists, namely W.B Yeats, Lady Gregory and J.M Synge, delved into an almost-lost heritage believed exclusive to the West of Ireland and the peasant population, and adopted it as the basis of a new national identity. Utilising the theories of Benedict Anderson as a framework, this article explores the motives of identity building behind the establishment of Dun Emer-Cuala Press by Elizabeth and W.B Yeats, and the role of independent printing presses in constructing an "imagined community" (Anderson 2006). Throughout this article I will examine the impact of the Literary Revival in shaping the publishing landscape in Ireland, exploring the press’s influence in paving the way for contemporary Irish publishers working independently of large British conglomerates.