This Week in Literary History: John Keats Writes “To Autumn”
This first appeared in Lit Hub’s Literary History newsletter—sign up here. On September 19, 1819, after walking along the River Itchen in Hampshire, England, the 24-year-old poet John Keats—who had, earlier that year, completed “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” “Ode to a
On September 19, 1819, shortly after a walk along the River Itchen in Hampshire, England, 24-year-old poet John Keats penned what would become one of the most beloved fall poems in the English language: "To Autumn." Keats, who had already composed famous works such as "Ode on a Grecian Urn" and "Ode to a Nightingale," was inspired by the beauty of the season.
On September 21st, he shared his thoughts with friend John Hamilton Reynolds, describing the "temperate sharpness" of the air and the "Dian skies." He appreciated the stubble fields more than the green of spring, finding them warm like certain pictures.
Keats's poem, included in his 1820 collection "Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems," is celebrated for its comprehensive appeal. Caitlin Kimball notes that it engages all five senses, offering visions of abundance and frantic industry that give way to delightful indolence. The poem's delicate touches, fragrances, and tastes culminate in a "delicate but persistent chorus." However, Keats also acknowledges the inherent sadness of autumn, preserving it in its entirety despite the inevitable losses.
Tragically, shortly after composing the poem, Keats began to recognize the signs of tuberculosis in his lungs, an illness that had claimed the life of his younger brother Tom. He would succumb to the disease less than two years later.
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