John Keats, the English romantic poet, was born 225 years ago today.
Keats was one of the main figures of the second generation of Romantic poets along with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley. Although his poems were not generally well received by critics during his lifetime, his reputation grew after his death.
By the end of the 19th century, he had become one of the most beloved of all English poets.
Keats had a significant influence on a diverse range of poets and writers. Jorge Luis Borges stated that his first encounter with Keats was the most significant literary experience of his life.
The poetry of Keats is characterized by sensual imagery most notably in the series of odes. Today, his poems and letters are some of the most popular and most analyzed in English literature.
Keats died of tuberculosis at the age of 25.