Wednesday, 28 October 2015

London and the legend of a certain John Keats

There is without a bit of doubt, a lot one can do when he or she is in London and happens to be a person who is interested by literature. After all, Shakespeare’s legendary Globe Theatre is south of the line cutting across the city in the form of the River Thames. London is surely a city which caters to tastes of all kinds.

John Keats is a man whose contribution to the literature of English is valued to the same extent of that of other greats such as the two Williams; William Shakespeare and William Wordsworth and other such figures.

London is such an amazing and historic city that one can head over and pay a visit to the former residence of this well known and well reputed man. The place is located on the street of the same name; Keats Grove. Just as the nation’s representative, the Prime Minister stays at 10, Downing Street, in a similar vein, John Keats, who is a fitting representative of the heritage and repute of English literature resided at 10 Keats Grove.

When one comes to pay a visit to London and in particular to the erstwhile residence of John Keats, it is quite important, to say the very least, the book oneself into a hotel which provides good value for money and a great location to go along with it, so as to make sure that the visitor to the city does not have to spend much time travelling to the various sights he or she wishes to pay visits to. A hotel of this sort would be one of the hotels in Notting Hill but since quality does matter and makes a difference, it is more prudent for the traveller to the city to choose a preferred name in the area such as the Shaftesbury premier London notting hill.

The man spent only a couple of years here between the years 1818 and 1820. However, the place was not known by the current name back then. Instead, it was known by its former name, which was Wentworth Place. In fact, the original dwellings of the famous poet would have been a lot more Spartan than the ones one is exposed to when he or she pays a visit to the house at 10 Keats Grove. This is because the present day Grade I listed villa is an amalgamation of the residence of Keats and that of Fanny Brawne.

In addition to this, the place was thrown open to the public in the wake of a renovation which entailed the documents, which are on display, to be updated. After the extensive work which was undertaken so as to reflect the short life of the poet in the most accurate and genuine way that was possible.

To say the very least, Fanny Brawne was a significant figure in the short but impactful life of John Keats [the poet’s life lasted just about a quarter of a century]. Miss Fanny Brawne was a neighbour to him and he fell in love with her. It would be of interest to any person who is interested in the personal life of the poet that the engagement ring which was given to Fanny Brawne is among the items which are available to be seen on display.

Paying a visit to this residence, which is steeped in history, is not an expensive affair at all. In fact, adults can enter for just five and a half pounds, those eligible for concessions enter at three and a half pounds while any people who are under seventeen and wish to pay a visit can do so for no cost to them whatsoever. This, probably, does it fair part in propagating the love of the work of Keats among the youth of the city and today.

It is of an immense level of literary significance that a great majority of the work of Keats was written at this place, rather than in Italy which is where he moved with Fanny Brawne; whom he was never able to get married to on account of succumbing to tuberculosis.

As a matter of fact, Ode to a Nightingale was a composition which Keats created while seated under a plum tree in this very garden.

To this day, the poetry of John Keats, in addition to his memory, is kept alive in the form of readings of his work which are conducted on quite a regular basis; along with educational events to increase the awareness of the impact of Keats on English literature, which was destined never to be the same again after his meaningful impact was made.

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