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The epic romance of one of the most celebrated poets in the English language
Coming to theatres in September 2009 is the tragic love story of nineteenth- century poet John Keats and the love of his life, Fanny Brawne. Keats died at the young age of twenty-five, leaving behind some of the most exquisite and moving verse and letters ever written, inspired by his deep love for Fanny. Bright Star is a collection of Keats' romantic poems and correspondence in the heat of his passion, and is a dazzling display of a talent cut cruelly short.
Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art--
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask Of snow upon the mountains and the moors--
No--yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever--or else swoon to death.
La Belle Dame Sans Merci
Ah, what can ail thee, wretched wight,
Alone and palely loitering;
The sedge is wither'd from the lake,
And no birds sing.
Ah, what can ail thee, wretched wight,
So haggard and so woe-begone?
The squirrel's granary is full,
And the harvest's done.
I see a lily on thy brow,
With anguish moist and fever dew;
And on thy cheek a fading rose
Fast withereth too.
I met a lady in the meads
Full beautiful, a faery's child;
Her hair was long, her foot was light,
And her eyes were wild.
I set her on my pacing steed,
And nothing else saw all day long;
For sideways would she lean, and sing
A faery's song.
I made a garland for her head,
And bracelets too, and fragrant zone;
She look'd at me as she did love,
And made sweet moan.
She found me roots of relish sweet,
And honey wild, and manna dew;
And sure in language strange she said,
I love thee true.
She took me to her elfin grot,
And there she gaz'd and sighed deep,
And there I shut her wild sad eyes--
So kiss'd to sleep.
And there we slumber'd on the moss,
And there I dream'd, ah woe betide,
The latest dream I ever dream'd
On the cold hill side.
I saw pale kings, and princes too,
Pale warriors, death-pale were they all;
Who cry'd--"La belle Dame sans merci
Hath thee in thrall!"
I saw their starv'd lips in the gloam
With horrid warning gaped wide,
And I awoke, and found me here
On the cold hill side.
And this is why I sojourn here
Alone and palely loitering,
Though the sedge is wither'd from the lake,
And no birds sing.
PatriciaJL
Posted February 14, 2011
This book was absolutely amazing! Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art--
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors--
No--yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,
To feel for ever i...moreJohn Keats is one of the best poets I have ever had the honor to read. Having died at the age of 25, John Keats may have lived a short life but his poetry and letters show he knew much more about love and life than most of us today. This book, in particular, serves as a companion to the 2009 movie "Bright Star", staring Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw. As the movie focuses on the doomed romantic relationship between John Keats and Fanny Brawne, this book offers selected poetry and letters that John Keats wrote to Fanny. Unfortunately, none of Fanny Brawne's letters have survived.
Despite the fact that all the letters included in this book are all from John Keats, you still are given a glance into his heart. After reading this book I was in awe at how deep and personal his letters and poems were. A few tears were shed, both of sadness and happiness. Even though Fannny Brawne did finally marry six years after Keats death you can not believe anything but that these two were soul mates in the highest sense of the word.
Wednesdayxxxx
Posted April 14, 2010
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I got this book the other day and it is now definitely one of my favorite books. Keats has an amazing way with words & It just reminds you that in a world where texts and IM's are taking over, nothing is better than a great love letter.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.kelseylford
Posted April 9, 2010
Bright Star is a compilation of the most romantic and endearing love letters that John Keats wrote to Fanny Brawne. I adored this book because I had read bits and pieces of the love letters online and in the back pages of some massive poetry books, but this made reading the letters so simple. Also, the book puts the love letters in order of when Keats wrote them, so it is so easy to follow along with the love story as it pans out. The ending to their beautiful love story, however, is heartbreaking, and reading the letters almost makes it worse. It is so worth it, though. Never before had I ever read love letters that literally made me cry, and I was sobbing the whole way through reading them. This book is perfect for hopeless romantics and people who refuse to give up on true love.
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Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I loved this collection of love letters and poems. After watching the movie and reading the letters Keats poems have so much more body to them.
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Overview
The epic romance of one of the most celebrated poets in the English language
Coming to theatres in September 2009 is the tragic love story of nineteenth- century poet John Keats and the love of his life, Fanny Brawne. Keats died at the young age of twenty-five, leaving behind some of the most exquisite and moving verse and letters ever written, inspired by his deep love for Fanny. Bright Star is a collection of Keats' romantic poems and correspondence in the heat of his passion,...