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 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 Brawne, May 1820 collection
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)
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)
Richard Woodhouse (1788-1834)