"Early Memories" by using John Butler Yeats is a poignant and reflective series of autobiographical sketches that provide readers with a glimpse into the life and stories of the writer. John Butler Yeats, famend as the father of the well-known poet W.B. Yeats, shares his recollections, observations, and reflections on an expansion of subjects on this literary work. The narrative delves into Yeats's childhood, capturing the essence of his childhood, own family lifestyles, and the societal milieu wherein he lived. Yeats, acknowledged for his eager insight and inventive sensibility, offers readers a nuanced portrayal of his non-public journey and the historic context that fashioned his perspectives. Through brilliant storytelling, "Early Memories" navigates the landscapes of Yeats's past, portray a bright photo of the humans, locations, and occasions that left an indelible mark on him. The memoir unfolds like a tapestry, weaving together anecdotes, musings, and reminiscences that offer a textured and intimate portrayal of the author's life. Readers are treated to Yeats's encounters with exceptional figures of his time, his creative hobbies, and his reflections at the broader cultural and political panorama.
John Butler Yeats, an Irish artist, was the father of W. B. Yeats, Lily Yeats, Elizabeth Corbett "Lolly" Yeats, and Jack Butler Yeats. The National Gallery of Ireland houses several of his oil and paper portraits, including one of his son William, painted in 1900. Raymond Keaveney (2002) considers his portrait of John O'Leary from 1904 to be his greatest. He traveled to New York on the RMS Campania with his daughter Lily in 1907, at the age of 68, and never returned to Ireland. In October 1909, he moved into his final residence, a boarding house managed by the Petitpas sisters at 317 West 29th Street. In New York, he became associated with members of the Ashcan School of painters. He died in the boarding house on February 3, 1922. Edmund Quinn created a death mask, which is now in the collection of the Yeats Society in Sligo. John Butler Yeats is buried at Chestertown Rural Cemetery in Chestertown, New York, with his friend Jeanne Robert Foster.
