early 20th century icon

Early Twentieth Century British and Irish Sonnets

Although included on both the Victorian sonnet page and the World War I page, Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) belongs here as well. Robert Bridges (1844-1930) abandoned his profession of surgeon in 1870 to devote himself to writing and was appointed Britain's Poet Laureate in 1913. Upon his death, John Masefield (1878-1967) took over the position. William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) wrote the most famous 20th century sonnet, Leda and the Swan.