Educated at Meath Protestant Industrial School for Boys, Stephens began working as a law clerk in 1896 and worked for a variety of solicitors until he was 'discovered' by George W. Russell in 1907. He was employed as an actor for a number of years while producing his own plays. In 1911, he was one of the founders of the Irish Review. In 1912, he published Crock of Gold, which was well-received, and moved to Paris. In 1918, he was named Registrar of the National Gallery of Dublin, a post he held until 1924. He met James Joyce in 1929 and the two became closest of friends. During the 1930's, he toured America on the lecture circuit and his literary output declined. In 1937, he began broadcasting for the BBC, which he continued to do until his death. His many works include Five New Poems (1913), Here Are Ladies (1913), The Demi-Gods (1914), Songs From the Clay (1915), The Insurrection in Dublin (1916), Irish Fairy Tales (1920), Deirdre (1923), Etched in Moonlight (1928), Theme and Variations (1930) and Kings and the Moon (1938). |
