John Keats

John Keats, born on October 31, 1795, in London, England, was an influential English Romantic poet known for his vivid imagery and sensuous style. Orphaned at a young age, Keats pursued an education in medicine before turning to poetry. Despite his brief life, he produced a rich body of work that significantly impacted the literary world.

Keats's first collection, "Poems" (1817), was met with limited success, but he persevered, publishing "Endymion" (1818), an ambitious mythological poem. His development as a poet reached its zenith with the remarkable odes of 1819, including "Ode to a Nightingale," "Ode on a Grecian Urn," and "To Autumn," which are celebrated for their emotional depth and mastery of form.

Tragically, Keats's career was plagued by ill health. He suffered from tuberculosis, the disease that had afflicted his family, and his worsening condition led him to seek a milder climate in Italy. However, despite his hopes for recovery, he succumbed to the illness on February 23, 1821, in Rome at the age of 25.

Although Keats received little recognition during his lifetime, his work posthumously gained acclaim, establishing him as one of the quintessential figures of Romantic literature. His poetry continues to be studied and admired for its exploration of beauty, nature, and existential themes.