John Keats 1816-1821 – Letters Selection Analysis & Summary

This selection of Keats's letters can be navigated in two ways: chronologically and by recipient. Each letter is annotated. I have also written brief introductions. The spelling and punctuation are Keats's own. Though the letters are reproduced word for word, bracketed corrections are included. Over two hundred and forty of Keats's letters survive. If I could, I would include them all at this website (and that is my eventual goal.) Viewing the actual letters is as necessary as reading them, I think. A transcription of a letter cannot show the speed of Keats's thought and writing, whereas the actual letter will show wide gaps between words, or the way he hastily combined words and forgot certain letters. For that reason, I scan as many letters as I can find. Please visit Original Manuscript Images to view them. Reading Keats's letters brings the poet to vivid life. I hope that your visit to this page leads you to read all of the letters, collected and edited most notably by Hyder Edward Rollins and Robert Gittings.

1817

To John Hamilton Reynolds, 17-18 April 1817 To Leigh Hunt, 10 May 1817 To Benjamin Robert Haydon, 10-11 May 1817 To Benjamin Bailey, 8 October 1817 To Benjamin Bailey, 28-30 October 1817 To John Hamilton Reynolds, 22 November 1817

1818

To Benjamin Robert Haydon, 23 January 1818 This page also includes a note to John Taylor. To Benjamin Bailey, 13 March 1818 To Benjamin Robert Haydon, 8 April 1818 To John Hamilton Reynolds, 3 May 1818 To Benjamin Bailey, 21, 25 May 1818 To Benjamin Bailey, 10 June 1818 To Thomas Keats, 25-27 June 1818

1819

To George and Georgiana Keats, September 1819 This letter spans ten days in September and offers great insight into Keats's life and personality. To Fanny Brawne, 11 October 1819 To Fanny Brawne, 13 October 1819 To Fanny Brawne, 19 October 1819 To Fanny Keats, 26 (?) October 1819

1820

To Fanny Brawne, February 1820 collection To Fanny Keats, 8 February 1820 To Fanny Keats, 14 February 1820 To John Hamilton Reynolds, 28 February 1820 To Fanny Brawne, March 1820 collection To Fanny Keats, 20 March 1820 To Fanny Brawne, May 1820 collection To John Taylor, 11 June 1820 To Percy Bysshe Shelley, 16 August 1820 To Fanny Keats, 11 September 1820 To Charles Brown, 30 September 1820 To Charles Brown, 1 November 1820 To Charles Brown, 30 November 1820 This is Keats's last surviving letter.

Recipient

Benjamin Bailey (1791-1853)

To Benjamin Bailey, 8 October 1817 28-30 October 1817 To Benjamin Bailey, 13 March 1818 To Benjamin Bailey, 21, 25 May 1818 To Benjamin Bailey, 10 June 1818

Frances (Fanny) Brawne (1800-1865)

To Fanny Brawne, 11 October 1819 To Fanny Brawne, 13 October 1819 To Fanny Brawne, 19 October 1819 To Fanny Brawne, February 1820 collection To Fanny Brawne, March 1820 collection To Fanny Brawne, May 1820 collection

Charles Brown (1787-1842)

To Charles Brown, 30 September 1820 To Charles Brown, 1 November 1820 To Charles Brown, 30 November 1820 Charles Cowden Clarke (1787-1877) Charles Wentworth Dilke (1789-1864) William Haslam (1795/1798(?)-1851)

Benjamin Robert Haydon (1786-1846)

To Benjamin Robert Haydon, 10-11 May 1817 To Benjamin Robert Haydon, 23 January 1818 This page also includes a note to John Taylor. To Benjamin Robert Haydon, 8 April 1818

James Henry Leigh Hunt (1784-1859)

To Leigh Hunt, 10 May 1817

Frances Mary (Fanny) Keats (1803-1889)

To Fanny Keats, 26 (?) October 1819 To Fanny Keats, 8 February 1820 To Fanny Keats, 14 February 1820 To Fanny Keats, 20 March 1820 To Fanny Keats, 11 September 1820 George Keats (1797-1841)

George Keats and Georgiana Augusta Wylie Keats (1798-1879)

To George and Georgiana Keats, September 1819 This letter spans ten days in September and offers great insight into Keats's life and personality.

Thomas Keats (1799-1818)

To Thomas Keats, 25-27 June 1818

John Hamilton Reynolds (1794-1852)

To John Hamilton Reynolds, 17-18 April 1817 To John Hamilton Reynolds, 22 November 1817 To John Hamilton Reynolds, 3 May 1818 To John Hamilton Reynolds, 28 February 1820 James Rice (1792-1832) Joseph Severn (1793-1879)

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

To Percy Bysshe Shelley, 16 August 1820

John Taylor (1781-1864)

To John Taylor, 11 June 1820 Richard Woodhouse (1788-1834)