CURRENT LITERATURE.
Lffi and Letters of John Keats. By Lord Houghton. New Edition. (Moxon.)—This new and attractive edition of Lord Houghton's Life of Keats is published in one volume, which is the principal thing we have to say about it. For is not the book known well already as one of the most charming biographies of our day ? The letters which John Keats wrote to his brother and friend during the too few years of his literary activity lay bare his heart and life to an extent which is not common. Lord Houghton himself has remarked that to the poet more than to any other man may it be conceded to be judged by the works of his genius, rather than by the circumstances of his outward life ; but for Keats, less than for most men, was that excuse required ? The story of his life is agreeably and frankly told by the letters which form the greater portion of the book before us, and by the connecting link of graceful narrative which we owe to Lord Houghton. Some criticisms upon Edmund Kean written by the poet in a paper of the time, and a poetical fragment, frankly announced as of "doubtful authenticity," giro some additional interest to this new edition of Lord Houghton's memoir.
Previous page
