John Keats: Selected Poems (Penguin Classics: Poetry)

I am not the easiest reader to please when it comes to poetry. I wasn`t able to stick with ``Hyperion`` or ``Endymion``. But I enjoyed the shorter and medium-length pieces that are not weighed down by classical references. ``To Charles Cowden Clarke`` explores the friendship that served as an inspiration to the young poet, starting with an interesting metaphor in which the speaker is a swan desperately seeking out drops of this fleeting inspiration.The lyrical beauty of ``Ode to a Nightingale`` is hard to question, though I did not lose myself in the bird`s song like the speaker. This collection includes some more down-to-earth works on various topics, which the reader may or may not find pleasing. The book includes a glossary of classical and literary terms in the back to help make sense of the text, which often cites British magical lore and Greco-Roman civilization.

It's very difficult not to like Keats' poetry. The selections here are uniformly considered his best work, and there are enough poems to give the reader a complete view of Keats' style and subjects. This is a nice book for a winter evening, or for dipping into when one wants to be refreshed by reading some outstanding poetry.

John Barnard’s edited selection of the poetry of John Keats is very well done. This edition gives the reader a window into the “mad genius” of the romantic poet who died, tragically, at the age of 25 with tuberculosis.Keats’ poetry generally revolves around two themes, which is readily apparent when reading his poetry but is useful to know when beginning to tackle Keats: political radicalism and philhellenist romanticism that celebrated sex, love, and the body. One could say that Keats’ poetry not only aimed at re-enchantment against the dark satanic mills and empty rainbows of modern utilitarian science, but also wanted to bring about the resurrection of sexuality and the body. One need only read “On the Eve of St. Agnes,” “Endymion,” “Isabella,” “Lamia,” and other poems including in this selection to see that.One of the problems, however, is that this edition only includes fragments of Endymion. While the entire first book is included, parts two, three, and four are selected highlights. One will still get the gist of Endymion, but it’s a shame Barnard decided against the inclusion of the whole poem. Nevertheless, this is a great volume containing the best of Keats’ poetry. Read, be horrified, inspired, and cry when reading a voice crying out in the wilderness.In some respects, despite Keats’ poetry is the culmination of a long literary tradition in English literature beginning with Shakespeare and developed through John Milton and Jonathan Swift waging war against the encroachment of dead body materialism. Notice how, in “On the Eve of St. Agnes,” our protagonists are Porphyro and Madeline. One name harkens back to Roman antiquity and the other to present day England. When Porphyro “resurrects” Madeline by “play[ing] an ancient ditty” where after she “uttered a soft moan,” the language and imagery ought to convey an immediate sense of the sensual and fantastic as well as showing Keats' hand as to how we are to be resurrected back to life in this empty and constrictive confines of modernity. “Isabella: Or the Pot of Basil,” is obviously a Keatsian homage to Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” In fact, Keats is supposed to have had a portrait of Shakespeare, the same great English playwright whom Voltaire said was worth a pile of dung! "Isabella," though, still follows the same theme of love and sensuality which dominates much of Keats' poetry.Keats’ poetry, thus, is a rebellion against the empty materialism of the Enlightenment. In paving the way from romanticism, Keats focuses on the need for spirits, love, and sexuality—all things that had been chased away by the advent of modernity and, in his mind, Puritanical Christianity. Anyone wanting to become acquainted with the poetry of Keats should pick up this edition and immerse oneself in the brilliance of a young writer whose grave in the Protestant Cemetery in Rome was said to be “the most holy place” in that city by his devoted followers and devotees. Keats' poetry is special and a window into the thoughts and worldview of one of the most important romantic writers.

Only serious academics interested in detailed scholarly study of Keats could wish to have more than John Barnard presents us with in this volume. All the major poems are here, together with an interesting selection of others, particularly the earlier work. Barnard gives us a lucid and unpretentious introduction that will be of value to both students and the general reader. The only small caveat I have is that the material appearing under "Dictionary of Classical names", might more usefully have been drawn in via the notes on particular poems. Nonetheless the dictionary still has its value. A fine offering from one of our great poets. Recommended.

Great read

I purchased this for my son for his English Literature A-levels. They look like good quality and the delivery was next day with Amazon Prime. A happy customer.

The poems in this book can definitely be described as romantic poetry. I bought this book for use on my English Literature A Level. Although I only needed to read three poems, I read the whole book. The imagery of the poems is very descriptive and the stories behind them are very vivid. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes romantic poetry.

Selected Poems: Keats (Penguin Classics) Personally it's not my style of poetry that I like, but overall it's a great quality book and perfect for studying Selected Poems: Keats (Penguin Classics)