Selected Letters of John Keats: Based on the texts of Hyder Edward Rollins, Revised Edition / Edition 2

by John Keats, Grant F. Scott

Overview

The letters of John Keats are, T. S. Eliot remarked, "what letters ought to be; the fine things come in unexpectedly, neither introduced nor shown out, but between trifle and trifle." This new edition, which features four rediscovered letters, three of which are being published here for the first time, affords readers the pleasure of the poet's "trifles" as well as the surprise of his most famous ideas emerging unpredictably.

Unlike other editions, this selection includes letters to Keats and among his friends, lending greater perspective to an epistolary portrait of the poet. It also offers a revealing look at his "posthumous existence," the period of Keats's illness in Italy, painstakingly recorded in a series of moving letters by Keats's deathbed companion, Joseph Severn. Other letters by Dr. James Clark, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Richard Woodhouse—omitted from other selections of Keats's letters—offer valuable additional testimony concerning Keats the man.

Edited for greater readability, with annotations reduced and punctuation and spelling judiciously modernized, this selection recreates the spontaneity with which these letters were originally written.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780674018419
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	09/30/2005
Edition description:	Revised Edition
Pages:	576
Product dimensions:	5.69(w) x 8.94(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Grant F. Scott is Professor of English at Muhlenberg College.

Table of Contents

Preface

Editorial Procedures

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Events in the Life of John Keats

Keats's Correspondents

LETTERS, 1816-1821

1816-1817

C. C. Clarke—September

C. C. Clarke—9 October

C. C. Clarke—31 October

B. R. Haydon—20 November

C. C. Clarke—17 December

J. H. Reynolds—17 March

George And Tom Keats—15 April

J. H. Reynolds—17, 18 April

Leigh Hunt—10 May

B. R. Haydon—10, 11 May

Taylor and Hessey—16 May

Taylor and Hessey—10 June

Jane and Mariane Reynolds—4 September

J. H. Reynolds—September

Fanny Keats—10 September

J. H. Reynolds—21 September

B. R. Haydon—28 September

Benjamin Bailey—8 October

Benjamin Bailey—28-30 October

Benjamin Bailey—3 November

Benjamin Bailey—22 November

J. H. Reynolds—22 November

George and Tom Keats—21, 27 (?) December

1818

George and Tom Keats—5 January

B. R. Haydon—10 January

George and Tom Keats—23 January

B. R. Haydon—23 January

John Taylor—23 January

Benjamin Bailey—23 January

George and Tom Keats—23, 24 January

George and Tom Keats—30 January

John Taylor—30 January

J. H. Reynolds—3 February

George and Tom Keats—14 (?) February

J. H. Reynolds—19 February

George and Tom Keats—21 February

John Taylor—27 February

Benjamin Bailey—13 March

J. H. Reynolds—14 March

James Rice—24 March

J. H. Reynolds—25 March

B. R. Haydon—8 April

J. H. Reynolds—9 April

J. H. Reynolds—17 April

John Taylor—24 April

J. H. Reynolds—27 April

J. H. Reynolds—3 May

Benjamin Bailey—21, 25 April

Benjamin Bailey—10 June

Tom Keats—25-27 June

George and Georgiana Keats—27, 28 June

Tom Keats-29 June, 1, 2 July

Fanny Keats—2, 3, 5 July

Tom Keats—3, 5, 7, 9 July

J. H. Reynolds—11, 13 July

Tom Keats—10, 11, 13, 14 July

Tom Keats—17, 18, 20, 21 July

Benjamin Bailey—18, 22 July

Tom Keats—23, 26 July

Tom Keats—3, 6 August

Mrs. James Wylie—6 August

Fanny Keats—19 August

C. W. Dilke—20, 21 September

J. H. Reynolds—22 (?) September

J. A. Hessey—8 October

Fanny Keats—26 October

Richard Woodhouse—27 October

George and Georgiana Keats—14, 16, 21, 24, 31 October

James Rice—24 November

B. R. Haydon—22-December

1819

George and Georgiana Keats—16-18, 22, 29 (?), 31 December 1818, 2-4 January 1819

B. R. Haydon—10 (?) January

Fanny Keats—11 February

B. R. Haydon—18 (?) February

Fanny Keats—27 February

B. R. Haydon—8 March

Fanny Keats—13 March

Joseph Severn—29 March

Fanny Keats—31 March

Fanny Keats—12 April

B. R. Haydon—13 April

Fanny Keats—1 May (?)

George and Georgiana Keats—14, 19 February, 3 (?), 12, 13, 17, 19 March, 15, 16, 21, 30 April, 3, 4 May

Miss Jeffery—31 May

Miss Jeffery—9 June

Fanny Keats—9 June

B. R. Haydon—17 June

Fanny Keats—17 June

Fanny Brawne—1 July

Fanny Keats—6 July

Fanny Brawne—8 July

J. H. Reynolds—11 July

Fanny Brawne—15 (?) July

Fanny Brawne—25 July

C. W. Dilke (With Charles Brown)—31 July

Fanny Brawne—5, 6 August

Benjamin Bailey—14 August

Fanny Brawne—16 August

John Taylor—31 August

J. A. Hessey—5 September

John Taylor—5 September

Fanny Brawne—13 September

John Taylor (From Richard Woodhouse)—19, 20 September

J. H. Reynolds—21 September

Richard Woodhouse—21, 22 September

Charles Brown—22 September

C. W. Dilke—22 September

Charles Brown—23 September

George And Georgiana Keats—17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27 September

C. W. Dilke—1 October

B. R. Haydon (With Charles Brown)—3 October

Fanny Brawne—11 October

Fanny Brawne—13 October

Fanny Brawne—19 October

Fanny Keats—26 (?) October

William Haslam—2 November

Joseph Severn—15 November

John Taylor —17 November

James Rice—December

Fanny Keats—20 December

1820

Georgiana Wylie Keats—13, 15, 17, 28 January

Fanny Brawne—4 (?) February

Fanny Keats—6 February

Fanny Keats—8 February

Fanny Brawne—10 (?) February

Fanny Brawne—February (?)

Fanny Keats—14 February

Fanny Brawne—February (?)

Fanny Brawne—February (?)

Fanny Brawne—February (?)

James Rice—14, 16 February

Fanny Brawne—February (?)

Fanny Brawne—February (?)

Fanny Brawne—February (?)

Fanny Brawne—24 (?) February

Fanny Brawne—27 (?) February

J. H. Reynolds—28 February

Fanny Brawne—28 (?) February

Fanny Brawne—29 (?) February

Fanny Brawne—1 March (?)

C. W. Dilke—4 March

Fanny Brawne—March (?)

Fanny Brawne—March (?)

Fanny Brawne—March (?)

Fanny Brawne—March (?)

Fanny Brawne—March (?)

Fanny Brawne—March (?)

Fanny Keats—20 March

Fanny Brawne—March (?)

Fanny Brawne—March (?)

Mrs. James Wylie—24 (?) March

Fanny Keats—1 April

Fanny Keats—12 April

Fanny Keats—21 April

Fanny Keats—4 May

Fanny Brawne—May (?)

Fanny Brawne—June (?)

John Taylor—2 (?) June

Charles Brown —About 21 June

Fanny Keats—23 June

Fanny Brawne—4 July (?)

Fanny Brawne—5 July (?)

Fanny Keats—5 July

William Haslam (From Joseph Severn)—12 (?) July

Fanny Keats—22 July

John Keats (From Percy Bysshe Shelley)—27 July

Fanny Brawne—August (?)

Fanny Keats—13 August

John Taylor—13 August

Leigh Hunt—13 (?) August

John Taylor—14 August

Charles Brown—14 August

Percy Bysshe Shelley—16 August

Charles Brown—August (?)

Fanny Keats—23 August

Fanny Keats—11 September

William Haslam (From Joseph Severn)—19 September

William Haslam (From Joseph Severn)—21 September

Charles Brown—30 September

William Haslam (From Joseph Severn)—22 October

Mrs. Samuel Brawne—24 (?) October

Charles Brown—1, 2 November

William Haslam (From Joseph Severn)—1, 2 November

? (From Dr. James Clark)—27 November

Charles Brown—30 November

Charles Brown (From Joseph Severn)—14, 17 December

John Taylor (From Joseph Severn)—24 December

1821

? (From Dr. James Clark)—3 January

Mrs. Samuel Brawne (From Joseph Severn)—11 January

William Haslam (From Joseph Severn)—15 January

John Taylor (From Joseph Severn)—25, 26 January

William Haslam (From Joseph Severn)—22 February

John Taylor (From Joseph Severn)—6 March

William Haslam (From Charles Brown)—18 March

William Haslam (From Joseph Severn)—5 May

Index

Editorial Reviews

Keats's letters have long been regarded as masterpieces, both for the light they shed on the poetry, and for the vivid picture they provide of the poet. This excellent selection is based on Hyder Rollins's definitive 1958 edition, and includes several letters which have been found only recently. The context of the correspondence is established by the inclusion of some letters addressed to Keats.

London Review of Books

Devotees of Keats's poetry will appreciate Scott's revision. Interesting to read, Keats's letters throw a great deal of light on his life and poetry, revealing the insecurities, doubts, fears, enthusiasms, and creativity of one of England's greatest poets.

Choice - G. A. Cevasco

Editor Scott has selected the most important correspondence from the standard two-volume Selected Letters of John Keats published in 1958, for this new version, and added four additional items (three previously unpublished). The informative editorial material is expertly presented.

Dallas Morning News

This new book, which offers the traditional body of Keats's letters as well as a handful of new additions, reminds us of the extraordinary human being who was John Keats. Here he is—falling in love, struggling with questions of literature and philosophy, generously helping others at every chance, bravely facing a terminal disease...Harvard University Press has produced a definitive volume in this new edition about the poet "whose name was writ on water."

Bloomsbury Review - John A. Murray

[These] letters glow with spontaneity; sprightly and personal to the point of intimacy, they reveal a mind and heart searching high and low for possibilities. Here, readers will see a man in step with daily existence who reasoned his way through but also exalted in life's infinite variety and challenges. Insights into Keats's poetry are to be found, too, as well as his great devotion to friends and family. Keats was not without human frailties--he could be dicey, contradictory, and manipulative--but his letters are irresistible...Recommended.--Robert L. Kelly "Library Journal" (5/1/2002 12:00:00 AM)

Devotees of Keats's poetry will appreciate Scott's revision. Interesting to read, Keats's letters throw a great deal of light on his life and poetry, revealing the insecurities, doubts, fears, enthusiasms, and creativity of one of England's greatest poets.--G. A. Cevasco "Choice" (1/1/2003 12:00:00 AM)

Editor Scott has selected the most important correspondence from the standard two-volume Selected Letters of John Keats published in 1958, for this new version, and added four additional items (three previously unpublished). The informative editorial material is expertly presented.-- "Dallas Morning News" (9/22/2002 12:00:00 AM)

Keats's letters have long been regarded as masterpieces, both for the light they shed on the poetry, and for the vivid picture they provide of the poet. This excellent selection is based on Hyder Rollins's definitive 1958 edition, and includes several letters which have been found only recently. The context of the correspondence is established by the inclusion of some letters addressed to Keats.-- "London Review of Books" (12/1/2005 12:00:00 AM)

This new book, which offers the traditional body of Keats's letters as well as a handful of new additions, reminds us of the extraordinary human being who was John Keats. Here he is--falling in love, struggling with questions of literature and philosophy, generously helping others at every chance, bravely facing a terminal disease...Harvard University Press has produced a definitive volume in this new edition about the poet "whose name was writ on water."--John A. Murray "Bloomsbury Review" (9/1/2002 12:00:00 AM)

From the Publisher

Devotees of Keats's poetry will appreciate Scott's revision. Interesting to read, Keats's letters throw a great deal of light on his life and poetry, revealing the insecurities, doubts, fears, enthusiasms, and creativity of one of England's greatest poets.
— G. A. Cevasco

Choice

This new book, which offers the traditional body of Keats's letters as well as a handful of new additions, reminds us of the extraordinary human being who was John Keats. Here he is—falling in love, struggling with questions of literature and philosophy, generously helping others at every chance, bravely facing a terminal disease...Harvard University Press has produced a definitive volume in this new edition about the poet "whose name was writ on water."
— John A. Murray

Bloomsbury Review

If letter writing is a performance art, and great performances seduce, then surely readers will be seduced by the letters of John Keats. The examples included here are those selected by Hyder E. Rollins for The Letters of John Keats, 1814-1821, but Scott (English, Muhlenberg Coll.) has deleted the endless academic annotations and updated the spelling and punctuation for ease of reading. As a result, the letters glow with spontaneity; sprightly and personal to the point of intimacy, they reveal a mind and heart searching high and low for possibilities. Here, readers will see a man in step with daily existence who reasoned his way through but also exalted in life's infinite variety and challenges. Insights into Keats's poetry are to be found, too, as well as his great devotion to friends and family. Keats was not without human frailties he could be dicey, contradictory, and manipulative but his letters are irresistible. Included in this volume are letters to a cross section of people, including Keats's friends, siblings, and fianc e, Fanny Brawne. Scott wisely includes a few letters to and about John Keats, the most notable being those of the painter Joseph Severn, his loving caregiver, who nursed Keats until his early death in Italy. Recommended for larger public libraries. Robert L. Kelly, Fort Wayne Community Schs., IN Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal