Over the course of his short life, John Keats (1795-1821) honed a raw talent into a brilliant poetic maturity. By the end of his brief career, he had written poems of such beauty, imagination, and generosity of spirit that he had - unwittingly - fulfilled his wish that he should ‘be among the English poets after my death’. This wide-ranging selection of Keats’s poetry contains youthful verse, such as his earliest known poem ‘Imitation of Spenser’; poems from his celebrated collection of 1820 - including ‘Lamia’, ‘Isabella’, ‘The Eve of St Agnes’, ‘Ode to a Nightingale’ and ‘Hyperion’ - and later celebrated works such as ‘La Belle Dame sans Merci’. Also included are many poems considered by Keats to be lesser work, but which illustrate his more earthy, playful side and superb ear for everyday language.

Why You Should Read John Keats

1. Timeless Beauty: Keats’s poetry is renowned for its exquisite beauty and vivid imagery, capturing the essence of human emotion and experience.

2. Rich Imagination: His works are a testament to his boundless imagination, transporting readers to worlds of fantasy and wonder.

3. Emotional Depth: Keats’s poems explore profound themes of love, mortality, and nature, offering deep emotional resonance.

4. Linguistic Mastery: His superb ear for language and rhythm makes his poetry a delight to read, showcasing his linguistic genius.

5. Lasting Legacy: Despite his short life, Keats’s influence on English literature is enduring, making his work essential reading for any poetry enthusiast.