This book tells the story of John Keats, one of our greatest poets, but it starts by introducing us to John Keats, the person. We meet an orphaned teenager training to be a surgeon, who makes a brave and risky choice to leave medicine for poetry. Colvin walks us through those intense few years—the close friendships with Shelley and others, the fierce criticism his early work received, his deep love for Fanny Brawne, and the shadow of the tuberculosis that would kill him. The 'plot' is his life: the struggle to be taken seriously, the burst of creative genius, and the heartbreaking end at just 25.

Why You Should Read It

You should read this because it makes genius human. After finishing, I didn't just see Keats as the author of timeless odes; I saw a real guy who got bad reviews, worried about money, and loved his sister fiercely. Colvin, writing not long after Keats's death, had access to people who knew him, and that closeness comes through. He shows how Keats's personal joys and sorrows—his brother's death, his own illness—fueled the emotional power of his later work. It’s a powerful reminder that great art often comes from a life fully, and sometimes painfully, lived.

Final Verdict

This is the perfect book for anyone who loves Keats's poetry and wants to know the story behind it. It’s also a great pick for readers who enjoy biographies of artists, especially those that focus on the person rather than just dissecting their work. While it’s a detailed and respected biography, Colvin’s clear admiration for his subject makes it feel more like an insightful conversation than a dry lecture. If you’ve ever read 'Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art' and felt a pang, this book will show you why.