John Keats was considered one of the last romantic poets, dying aged just 25. His romance – never consummated – with Fanny Browne is legendary, and became the subject of Jane Campion’s beautiful film Bright Star
My dearest Lady,
  I am now at pheasant Cottage window, looking onto a beautiful hilly country, with a glimpse of the sea; the morning is very fine. I do not know how elastic my spirit might be, what pleasure I might have in living here if the remembrance of you did not weigh so upon me. Ask yourself my love whether you are not very cruel to have so enamelled me, so destroyed my freedom. For myself I know not how to express my devotion to so fair a form. I want a brighter word then bright, a fairer word then fair, I almost wish we were butterflies and liv’d but three summer days, three such days I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain.
  Will you confess this in the Letter you must write immediately, and do all you can to console me in it, make it rich as a draught of poppies to intoxicate me, write me the softest words and kiss them that I may at least touch my lips where you have been.
John Keats.
John Keats was considered one of the last romantic poets, dying aged just 25. His romance – never consummated – with Fanny Browne is legendary, and became the subject of Jane Campion’s beautiful film Bright Star. Named for the sonnet Keats wrote for Browne – and which he spent the next six years trying to perfect, prior to his death – the film was Antonio Marras’ inspiration for his new collection, right down to the cloud of paper butterflies that descended over the models during the finale.Â
Text by Hollie Lacayo
