rich and distinguished work of scholarship
Conor Cruise O'Brien, The Listener
wonderfully edited by John Kelly ... nothing goes unexplained. The notes provide, often wittily, historical details about the 1880's and 1890's that no one has previously compiled. Kelly has performed many extraordinary feats of research. The biographical notes at the end are well written and helpful, and the analytical index on Yeats is just what is needed.
Richard Ellman, The New Republic
it is no exaggeration to claim that it marks a milestone in Yeats scholarship. The significance of this first volume lies not only in the content of the letters alone, but also in the sheer mass of beckground erudition assembled in this volume ... for a long, long time this monumental edition of Yeat's letters will be enlightening and delighting us.
John P. Frayne, Journal of English and Germanic Philology
This first volume sets a superlative standard for the books to come. Virtually every editorial and typographical decision taken here contributes to the usefulness, legibility, and attractiveness of the work.
The Modern Language Review
General editor: John Kelly