A Quick Look into the Sorrowful Life of John Keats

John Keats was born in London around 1795. His father, who was a stable foreman, died in a horse riding accident when John was eight years old. John’s mother also dies six years later when John is about fourteen years old; she would die of tuberculosis (Academy, 1). This passing of his parents tremendously impacted Keats, who continually read and participated in essay writing contests to cope with his familial losses (Authors, Vol. 58). Soon after these events, John is sent off to live with a family appointed by his grandmother, where he would then decide to become a surgeon. John however begins to be involved with an influential “circle of literary men“ as one source puts it; among these men were people like Bysshe Shelley and William Wordsworth (Academy, 1). Consequently, John decides to part ways with his medical profession and focus on writing instead. Though his beginning works are shunned Keats decides to keep writing. However, well into his career, John’s brother, Tom, becomes very ill of tuberculosis. As John cares for his ailing brother, he falls for a nearby woman named Fanny Brawne. Between the time that John falls in love with Fanny Brawne and his brother becomes hopelessly ill, Keats writes some of his most poignant poetry (Academy, 1). These intense turn of events seemed to bring out his most influential works. Keats would continue writing and interacting with Brawne until his death a short time afterward. Keats would die at the age of 25, of the same disease that his mother and brother died of years earlier, tuberculosis. As Authors and Artist for young Adults puts it: Keats grew up with death all around him, his early works were looked down upon and he only had “four years of active writing”, yet his poetry is among the most elite in British Literature. Though he went through so much adversity, his efforts remain a staple in the English language and have been called a “cornerstone of the British tradition” (Authors, vol. 58).

John Keats.” Academy of American Poets--Biographies of American Poets. (2008): 1-1. Literary Reference Center Plus. EBSCOhost. Tarrant County Coll. Lib. Databases. March 19, 2010. http: direct="true&db=lkh&AN=3620679&site=lrc-plus"

"John Keats." Authors and Artists for Young Adults. Vol. 58. (2004) Biography Resource Center. Thomson Gale. Tarrant County Coll. Lib. Databases. March 19, 2010.