This biography investigates the complex interplay between the public persona and the private interior life of William Butler Yeats, the preeminent Irish poet of the twentieth century. Richard Ellmann, a distinguished scholar and biographer, utilizes extensive access to Yeats's personal papers and correspondence to construct a comprehensive portrait of the poet. The work argues that Yeats consciously adopted various 'masks'—ranging from occultist to political senator—to navigate the tensions between his mystical pursuits and his active role in Irish public life.

Scholars and critics widely regard this work as a foundational text for understanding the multifaceted nature of Yeats's career and personal philosophy. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which rewards those seeking a rigorous examination of one of the most significant figures in modern literature.