Letters of John Keats to His Family and Friends

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

35698

Title

Letters of John Keats to His Family and Friends

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Edited by Sidney Colvin, this collection presents the intimate correspondence of John Keats to his family and friends, spanning 1816 to 1820. Offering an unvarnished glimpse into the poet's mind, these letters capture his artistic ambitions, personal struggles, and deep affection, revealing the genius behind the verses.

Summary up to 500 words

Compiled from original manuscripts and contemporary transcripts, this volume chronicles the final years of John Keats's life through his private correspondence. Beginning in 1816, the letters track his professional relationships with publishers like Taylor and Hessey and his circle of friends, including Benjamin Robert Haydon, Leigh Hunt, and Joseph Severn. The text documents his evolving poetic philosophy, his critical engagement with contemporaries like Wordsworth and Scott, and his ambitious plans for works such as *Hyperion* and *Endymion*. A significant portion of the collection consists of the famous journal-letters written during his 1818 tour of Scotland and Wales and his subsequent stay in Italy. These lengthy entries detail his travels, his observations of nature and art, and his deteriorating health, including the fatal hemorrhage of December 1818. The letters to his sister Fanny and brother George provide a tender portrait of his domestic life, his financial anxieties, and his growing passion for Fanny Brawne. Keats's voice ranges from boyish petulance and humor to profound melancholy and despair. The editor has preserved Keats's unique punctuation and capitalization while correcting obvious errors, ensuring the text remains faithful to the poet's authentic, unguarded style. Ultimately, these letters serve as a vital companion to his poetry, illuminating the human spirit that fueled his immortal verse.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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data/epubs/pg35698.epub

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Categories

• Biography
• Poetry