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SCHOLARLY WORK ON YEATS

Calvin Preddie

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*Appeared in the Standard-Freeholder (Daily)

Canada. February 10, 1972.

It might appear strange to see a review of a book published in India appearing in the Cornwall paper. But if the author of the book is now a resident of the area, then the situation is no longer a surprising one.

Stephen Gill comes from India. He now resides on Gloucester St. here. He is presently the editor of the Canadian Section of the World Federalist magazine, and is busy on his latest work-- a book on Bangladesh. He has published several scholarly pieces, among them are a book, English Grammar And Composition for Beginners, and other work carried in the Literary Criterion and The Calcutta Review. He has also completed a manuscript of a critical book on H. G. Wells.

It is obvious that Mr Gill, B.A. (Punjab University); M. A. (Agra University), and now working on his Ph.D. in Contemporary English at Ottawa University (where he has completed residential requirements) has confined himself to the scholastic field. His consideration of Yeats' work is a competent effort to present a scholarly treatise of Yeats' efforts and his influence in the area of Symbolism. His work should prove interesting reading to those who are seriously concerned with, and interested in English Literature.

In his book, the author draws upon the findings of others, and upon his own analysis which appears based on an intimate knowledge of Yeats' work and the period in which he existed. Stephen Gill tells us that Yeats can only be truly analyzed when his efforts with the problem of drama are considered along with his poetic genius. The strong impact of Yeats' love life (rather his frustrated love life) is fully explored by the author who shows it as a driving force behind Yeats' work.

Anyone desiring to know W B. Yeats, or anxious to renew acquaintances with an acclaimed master of the art of the use of symbolism, would find Stephen Gill's work a refreshing experience.

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