'I heard that Mr L Said a thing I am not at all contented with - Says he 'O, he is quite the little Poet' now this is abominable - you might as well say Buonaparte is quite the little Soldier - You see what it is to be under six foot and not a lord - ' John Keats in a letter to his brother George, February 1819
1 April 2008 A kind visitor sent me the imdb.com link to Bright Star, the Jane Campion film about Keats's romance with Fanny Brawne. It has the cast listing, etc
I am up to spring 1820 with the letters - so I'm getting there, slowly.... But what fun to read all the letters again, and in order.
3 March 2008 I have been a semi-lazy bum, it's true, but it's also taken me much longer to create my database of all of Keats's letters - yes, the complete collection of letters - than I thought it would. I am halfway through 1818 with the letters and hope to be done by the end of the month.
On a personal note, I'd like to recommend Ann Wroe's new biographical study, Being Shelley. I very much enjoyed her books on Pontius Pilate and Perkin Warbeck, but her analysis of Shelley's character and the various influences upon his work is even better - wonderful / insightful / often surprising, and it's all beautifully written.
If anyone has a favorite Keats quotation, from either the poems or letters, please send it to me. I have designed a new page - Quotable Keats - and contributions are most welcome. If you would like your name included on the page, let me know. Otherwise, I err on the side of internet anonymity. The page will be posted as soon as I've finished the letters.
Spring is on the way, everyone - a good time to read Countee Cullen's tribute to Keats. -Marilee
10 July 2007 The Keats House in Hampstead is having a fancy celebration of Keats's life and work - please click here to view the poster advertisting the events, which take place 20-22 July and 27-29 July.
12 January 2007 There is some news to report.... A few articles discuss Bright Star, Jane Campion's planned film about Keats and Fanny Brawne. I will post new info as I find it.
Please note: Some sites list a 2007 release date, but I also read a recent interview with Campion in which she stated she hasn't finished the screenplay yet. So....
Also, a kind visitor searched out some information about the Protestant Cemetery, and attempts to keep it open and perform necessary repairs. Go to www.protestantcemetery.it and click around to donate. All donations go to support the cemetery and (hopefully) restore Sunday hours.
Many thanks to Anne Weedon for the information.
Updates from June 1997 to December 2006 have
been deleted.
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