72. Lamia, | Isabella, | The Eve Of St. Agnes, | And | Other Poems. | By John Keats, | Author Of Endymion. | London: | Printed For Taylor And Hessey, | Fleet-Street. | 1820.
The poems in this volume represent the labor of a little over a year and a half—that is, from March, 1818, to October, 1819,—and were all written after the publication of Endymion. The book was issued in the beginning of July, and was the third, and, as it proved, the last of the poet's works. "My book is coming out," said he, "with very low hopes, though not spirits, on my part. This shall be my last trial; not succeeding, I shall try what I can do in the apothecary line." It was not lack of success, however, that led him to discontinue the publishing line.
Among the "other poems" mentioned on the title-page is Hyperion. A Fragment. The publishers, who seem to have cordially appreciated Keats's genius, refer to it in a special "Advertisement" placed after the title-page, and dated Fleet-Street, June 26, 1820:
"If any apology be thought necessary for the appearance of the unfinished poem of Hyperion, the publishers beg to state that they alone are responsible, as it was printed at their particular request, and contrary to the wish of the author. The poem was intended to have been of equal length with Endymion, but the reception given to that work discouraged the author from proceeding."
The volume was issued in light brown paper-covered boards, at 7s. 6d., and our poet says in a letter to Charles A. Brown: "My book has had good success among the literary people, and I believe has a moderate sale." And again he writes on this subject to Mr. Brown, August, 1820: "The sale of my book is very slow, though it has been very highly rated. One of the causes, I understand from different quarters, of the unpopularity of this new book, is the offence the ladies take at me. On thinking that matter over, I am certain that I have said nothing in a spirit to displease any woman I would care to please; but still there is a tendency to class women in my books with roses and sweetmeats,—they never see themselves dominant."
On the verso of the title-page of some copies, and at the end of the book, we find London: Printed by Thomas Davison, Whitefriars, a guarantee for the excellence of the typography, the key-note of which is struck in the admirably arranged title-page.
Duodecimo.
Collation: 3 ll., 199 pp.