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Recipient:
Fanny Keats (1803-1889) was Keats's younger sister. Sent to live
with their guardian Richard Abbey's family, she was deliberately separated
from her brothers. Abbey did not allow visits and even discouraged
letters. Nonetheless, Keats, always protective of his siblings,
wrote often and visited when he could. But his illness prevented
visits during his last months in England; he left for Italy without saying
goodbye. In 1826, Fanny married a Spanish poet, Valentin Maria
Llanos y Guieterrez, who had admired Keats and visited the poet just three
days before his death. Fanny and her husband left England in 1833
and never returned. They lived in Italy from 1861-1864, where she
became friendly with
Joseph Severn.
Introduction: As the oldest brother of orphaned siblings,
Keats was deeply devoted to his brothers, George and Tom, and sister,
Fanny. In this letter, he apologizes for neglecting Fanny and tells
her about George's problems in America and his own literary plans.
Wentworth Place
My dear Fanny,
My Conscience is always reproaching me for neglecting you for so long
a time. I have been returned from Winchester this fortnight and as
yet I have not seen you. I have no excuse to offer - I should have
no excuse. I shall expect to see you the next time I call on Mr A
about Georges affairs which perplex me a great deal - I should have to
day gone to see if you were in Town, but as I am in an i[n]dustrious
humour (which is so necessary to my livelihood for the future) I am
loath to break through it though it be merely for one day, for when I am
inclined I can do a great deal in a day - I am more fond of pleasure
than study (many men have prefer'd the latter) but I have become
resolved to know something which you will credit when I tell you I have
left off animal food that my brains may never henceforth be in a greater
mist than is theirs by nature - I took Lodgings in Westminster for the
purpose of being in the reach of Books, but am now returned to Hampstedd
being induced to it by the habit I have acquired of this room I am now
in and also from the pleasure of being free from paying any petty
attentions to a diminutive housekeeping. Mr Brown has been my
great friend for some time - without him I should have been in, perhaps,
personal distress - as I know you
love me though I do not deserve it, I am sure you will take pleasure in
being a friend to Mr Brown even before you know him - My Lodgings for
two or three days were close in the neighbourhood of Mrs Dilke who never
sees me but she enquires after you - I have had letters from George
lately which do not contain, as I think I told you in my last, the best
news. I have hopes for the best - I trust in a good termination to
his affairs which you please god will soon hear of - It is better you
should not be teased with the particulars - The whole amount of the ill
news is that his mercantile speculations have not had success in
consequence of the general depression of trade in the whole province of
Kentucky and indeed all america - I have a couple of shells for you you
will call pretty -
Your affectionate Brother
John
Notes: George Keats's troubles in America
were caused by the Panic of 1819, which wreaked financial havoc in both
England and America.
to Keats: Letters
to
Chronological List - to
Letters Grouped by Recipient
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