The Complete Poetical Works and Letters of John Keats

by John Keats

This book is the complete poetical works of John Keats, together with a collection of his letters. John Keats (1795–1821) was an English poet. He was one of the most celebrated second-generation Romantic poets together with Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron, despite the fact that he only produced poetry for four years. This fantastic collection constitutes a must-have for serious lovers of poetry, and would make for a worthy addition to any bookshelf. Contents “The Life of Keats”, “ A Poetic Romance”, “Lamia”, “Isabella”, “The Eve of St. Agnes”, “Hyperion”, “Specimen of an Induction to a Poem”, “ A Fragment”, “To Hope”, “Imitation of Spenser”, “Ode to a Nightingale”, “Ode to a Grecian Urn”, “Ode to Psyche”, “Odes on Melancholy”, etc. Many classic books such as this are becoming increasingly rare and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new biography of the author.

Genres: Poetry

500 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1999

About the author

Rich melodic works in classical imagery of English poet John Keats include " The Eve of Saint Agnes ," " Ode on a Grecian Urn ," and " To Autumn ," all in 1819.

Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley include "Adonais," an elegy of 1821 to John Keats.

Work of the principal of the Romantic movement of England received constant critical attacks from the periodicals of the day during his short life. He nevertheless posthumously immensely influenced poets, such as Alfred Tennyson. Elaborate word choice and sensual imagery characterize poetry, including a series of odes, masterpieces of Keats among the most popular poems in English literature. Most celebrated letters of Keats expound on his aesthetic theory of "negative capability."

Wikipedia page of the author

Reviews

[B. P. Rinehart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romantic Era literature. I have a hard time with it. Honestly, I have very mixed feelings towards the 1800s in general but I have very mixed feelings towards the Romantic era (and its transcendentalist American cousins). Now I have reviewed Romantic era figures before (most noticeably my four reviews of Edgar Allan Poe), but how do I feel about English Romanticism? Well I talked already about Wordsworth(punny name) and Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey, so in my next few reviews I will talk about a (maybe "THE") "Romantic era" poet who I am most fond of. I will discuss my impression of him here and then I will try to give short reviews of his celebrated "Odes" individually.

I don't exactly remember where or what book I first discovered him at but I must say that one makes him stand a part for me is that he comes off so alive and colorful (in a serious way) and I find myself actually believing him compared to his peers (sorry P.B. Shelley).

Another thing that really impresses me about Keats is how well he composes his verse. Calling it a line doesn't sound right because it is more like a lyric. His poems often sound like they should be sung.And I always have an urge to put music to them in my head. I sometimes wish I had a gift for putting the sort of King James Bible sounding words to print like he does (provided I didn't die of freak illness early on I would be rich!).

Now his "Odes" aren't my favorite poems (that honor probably goes to The Waste Land, and he is not my favorite poet (that is a toss-up between T.S. Eliot and Langston Hughes. But I do say that for me he stands miles above his contemporaries in the field of poetics.

[ninachtigall · Rating 4 out of 5]

too dumb for most, smart enough to enjoy some

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love him.