John KeatsThis landmark biography of celebrated Romantic poet John Keats explodes entrenched conceptions of him as a delicate, overly sensitive, tragic figure. Instead, Nicholas Roe reveals the real flesh-and-blood poet: a passionate man driven by ambition but prey to doubt, suspicion, and jealousy; sure of his vocation while bitterly resentful of the obstacles that blighted his career; devoured by sexual desire and frustration; and in thrall to alcohol and opium. Through unparalleled original research, Roe arrives at a fascinating reassessment of Keats's entire life, from his early years at Keats's Livery Stables through his harrowing battle with tuberculosis and death at age 25. Zeroing in on crucial turning points, Roe finds in the locations of Keats's poems new keys to the nature of his imaginative quest.Roe is the first biographer to provide a full and fresh account of Keats's childhood in the City of London and how it shaped the would-be poet. The mysterious early death of Keats's father, his mother's too-swift remarriage, living in the shadow of the notorious madhouse Bedlam—all these affected Keats far more than has been previously understood. The author also sheds light on Keats's doomed passion for Fanny Brawne, his circle of brilliant friends, hitherto unknown City relatives, and much more. Filled with revelations and daring to ask new questions, this book now stands as the definitive volume on one of the most beloved poets of the English language. |
Contents
73 | |
81 | |
82 | |
102 | |
123 | |
145 | |
146 | |
Bright and Dark | 162 |
Immortal Dinners | 313 |
Roads of the Dead 1818 | 339 |
Dark Passages | 340 |
walking North | 360 |
Sleepless Nights | 394 |
ditto ditto | 417 |
Ever Indolent | 440 |
Hope and Chance | 470 |
Other editions - View all
John Keats: A New Life Nicholas Roe,Professor of English Literature Nicholas Roe Limited preview - 2012 |
Common terms and phrases
Abbey April autumn Bailey beautiful Bedhampton brothers Brown Charles Cowden Clarke Clarke's copy death Dilke echoes Edmonton Endymion Enfield Eve of St Examiner Fanny Brawne father feel Frances friends genius George Georgiana Guy's Guy's Hospital Hammond Hampstead Haydon Hazlitt Hessey Hospital Hunt's Hyperion imagination Isabella Jones James Jennings John Hamilton Reynolds John Keats Joseph Joseph Severn Keates's Livery Stables Keats wrote Keats's Keats's poem Lamia later Leigh Hunt letter lines living London March Mary Mathew Midgley John morning night Ollier passion perhaps poetic published recalled Reynolds Reynolds's rhyme Richard Rimini Robert Gittings scene Severn Shakespeare Shelley sister sonnet Spenser St Agnes stood tip-toe Street summer Sunday Swan and Hoop Taylor Teignmouth Thomas Keates thou thought told Tom's Vale of Health verse walked weeks Wentworth Place William Woodhouse Wordsworth writing Young Poets