Letters of John Keats to Fanny Brawne / Written in the years MDCCCXIX and MDCCCXX and now given from the original manuscripts

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

60433

Title

Letters of John Keats to Fanny Brawne / Written in the years MDCCCXIX and MDCCCXX and now given from the original manuscripts

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

These intimate letters reveal the profound passion between poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne during his final years. Written amidst illness, poverty, and impending death, they offer a raw, unvarnished glimpse into his inner life, artistic struggles, and deep emotional vulnerability.

Summary up to 500 words

Compiled from original manuscripts and edited by Harry Buxton Forman, this collection presents thirty-seven letters written by John Keats to Fanny Brawne between 1819 and 1820. The correspondence chronicles the evolution of their relationship, beginning with Keats's arrival in Winchester and his subsequent moves to Shanklin, Westminster, and finally Hampstead. Initially playful and affectionate, the letters document a young poet confident in his art yet increasingly burdened by financial constraints and physical suffering. As his health deteriorates due to a ruptured blood vessel, the tone shifts dramatically from lighthearted banter to agonized despair. Keats details his intense physical pain, fear that illness will separate them forever, and the profound isolation of his condition. Despite his declining state, he remains utterly devoted, declaring that love is his sole religion and expressing a willingness to die for her. The text captures his transition from a vibrant young poet to a dying man clinging to beauty and memory. The letters serve as an essential document of his 'one profound passion,' offering an intimate glimpse into the working of forces within him that shaped both his greatest works and his ultimate woes. They reveal a nature keenly sensitive to pain, illustrating how the 'one profound passion' grew sweet like honey during intervals of health but bitter as wormwood amidst sickness and poverty. The collection stands as a vivid record of his inner life during his latter years, preserving the sacredness of his heart before his death in Italy.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Biography
• Correspondence