The Works of John Keats: With An Introduction and Bibliography

In my poetry collection, I realised I had none of the wonderful works of Keats. So pleased to have found this complete edition of his poems.

Some months ago I came across the email address of my former English teacher from my schooldays of more than 35 years ago. It was during the BBC's TV poetry season and, after the screening of their documentary of the life of Eliot, I took the opportunity to contact him and thank him for sowing the seeds of a lifelong love of poetry in general, and for Eliot and Yeats in particular. I received a gratifying reply from a man who must by now be into his late 70's, and who was clearly delighted to hear from an erstwhile pupil, of whom he had reasonably fond recollection, and on whom some of his own literary passions had rubbed off. However... Since then I have acquired and imbibed this complete Keats edition, and I have considered emailing him again to chide him, at least light-heartedly, for never exposing us to this outstanding treasure of our literary heritage. But it is a serious question that an educated Englishman can get to age 51 without a serious encounter with Keats, whom I've since come to consider our second literary marvel after Shakespeare. Is this not symptomatic of a deprived childhood?It has been a long, slow journey. Whenever I read poetry I read it out loud to ensure that I get the maximum of sense and rhythm from it. This book has been my read-aloud companion in all sorts of places over the summer just gone; the North Yorkshire Coast, Hadrian's Wall, by the bridge over the Wye at Hay and on London's South Bank. Fortunately I no longer care if passers by will consider such behaviour eccentric. But by far the most of it has been read in the bath where the acoustics are optimum.My instincts are modernist. Until Keats, with the exception of Shakespeare, my interests started with Baudelaire, through to Rilke and so on. I have had a good try with Wordsworth and Shelley, but found the pride and self-assurance of their time and class, for the most part, alien and unengaging. But, whether it's a time in my life or a quality in the man himself I find there to be a reality in Keats' outlook that allows me to connect deeply enough to start enjoying the language, and my, what language it is.All the poetry I have really enjoyed, till now, has been free verse. To my taste I have always found that the restraints imposed by rhyme and regular meter results in something that sounds artificial at best, and hopelessly stilted at worst. However, I have found with Keats that these apparent constraints are marvellously liberating, and one finds oneself in intimate communion with a mind whose facility with language is as freakishly enhanced as that of the greatest of mathematicians with respect to logic, or the greatest composers with patterns of sound. It is utterly baffling to my mundane mind how, despite the straitjackets of rhyme and meter, someone can still say exactly what they want to say, and a hundred times more beautifully than without those constraints.I am curious as to why two reviews of selections have been associated with this complete collection. There are so many examples of perfection in the complete corpus that any number of wonderful and inspiring selections might be made. But to take on the complete works is a journey and a job of work not without its trials. Because of the briefness of his life somewhat of what has come to us is incomplete or in an unperfected state. Nonetheless, it is right that these works are included because even where the wholes are imperfect, there is always enough of dazzling brilliance about which to wrap one's heart and mind and tongue.

I have read some reviews saying that this edition of Keats' poetry is not complete, but it darn well feels like it! Alongside the well-known poems are the ones which I had never even heard of: A Galloway Song, Sharing Eve's Apple, Sonnet to a Cat. (If these are already well-known then I apologise!) As a bonus the book includes detailed notes for each of the poems so you don't have to go and look up all the obscure mythological (mostly Greek) references as there are a lot of them.And the poetry itself? No adjectives can describe it apart from "beautiful". There are the short sonnets for when you only want to read a quick few and the lengthier ones such as Endymion if you have a bit more time on your hands. Keats was truly the master of the senses, able to create a huge variety of moods for all seasons from the mellowness of autumn to the sweet and fragrant spring. In true Romantic spirit he writes love letters to Nature, to rambling fields of wildflowers and vast rolling hills. The rhythm of the poems give them the flow of a river, a stream running through a forest untouched by human hands.Read Keats and let yourself be transported to some of the most sensual worlds found in poetry. At such an affordable price you've got no excuse.

My favourite Keat's poem is La Belle Dame sans Merci, I was disappointed to learn that the version in this book is not the original, but the revised version which is not as good. It's probably my own fault for not realising, but just a warning to anyone else thinking of buying!

These Wordsworth paperback poetry collections are great value

What can I say, I already had read some of Keats so my anticipation of his complete works in poetry was high. I wasn’t disappointed and I love picking this book up and delving into his mind. If you have ever read even one of his poems and felt moved, you will enjoy having this to treasure. A trusted classic, he delivers each time and sways the readers imagination with his ornate style. A beautiful book

I am really happy with this book! It's completely brand new and is brilliant quality! You can never go wrong with Wordsworth Editions and Wordsworth Classics!I've only had a brief flick through it so far but the introduction seems really well written, and a bibliography of useful books on Keats, Romanticism and specialist studies on both is provided at the start :)There is also a glossary and notes on each poem at the back, which is a really nice addition!Really happy with this purchase! :)

Classic poetry + great price = satisfied customer. The only very minor quibble I would have is that the paper used in this book is pretty thin and could have been of better quality. Oh, and if you're short sighted make sure you get your glasses out because the print is quite small. (Although I didn't expect anything else because there is an awful lot to fit into one book so understandably, the publishers were trying to keep printing costs down)

This books of poems and songs is amazing it goes great with the movie that came out about him I absolutely loved it

fast delivery as always. the book is very good quality and very complete. i personally love wobbly books — you can keep them open without breaking the spine — which is the case of this one!! it's longer than it looks too lol

Regalo molto gradito!!

Good collection

Ah, how I loved this. A spectacular book that gives poetry a good name. I adore it to pieces... Thank you for making this available--and at this reasonable price. Thank you.