In 1804, Keats’ father died in a tragic accident and his mother followed soon after in 1810, leaving Keats and his siblings in the care of their grandmother.

It was at this time that Keats was apprenticed to an apothecary by the name of Thomas Hammond and it was here he would stay for almost 5 years. According to Keats’ friends, this time in his life was probably the most peaceful.

In 1815, Keats joined Guy’s Hospital, which is now part of King’s College, London. He devoted a good deal of his time to the study of literature and began writing poetry.

Keats’ poetry was published, but was badly received by critics who mocked it in the harshest ways. He became known as a poet of a new school of poetry which was derisively referred to as the “Cockney School” for their use of plain language, their lack of formal education, and most assuredly because they were not from the upper classes.

During these years, John Keats spent a good deal of time nursing his brother Tom who was suffering from tuberculosis. Tom died in 1818, but not before infecting his brother with the same deadly illness.

After his brother’s death, John Keats moved in with his friend Charles Armitage Brown at Wentworth Place in Hampstead Heath. It is here that Keats would write most of his very famous odes, including “An Ode to a Nightingale”.

In 1820, Keats health became even worse, so he travelled to Italy hoping he would improve, but sadly he did not, and in 1821, he died in Rome.

John Keats’ biography tells the sad story of a young life that was cut short but gave us some of English literature’s most beautiful poems.

Keats House

Address: 10 Keats Grove, Hamstead, London NW3 2RR

Telephone: 020 7332 3868

Opening Times

Closed Mondays except Bank Holidays, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & Boxing Day | Open New Years Day.

Prices

£5 (Adult), £3 (Concessions), FREE (Under 16s).

Photo courtesy: Gruenemann

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