Lamia

John Keats first composed the narrative poem Lamia in 1819, drawing upon the ancient Greek legend of a serpent woman as told in Robert Burton's The Anatomy of Melancholy. The work reflects the Romantic movement's fascination with classical mythology and the tension between sensory experience and philosophical rationalism, remaining one of Keats's final major compositions before his untimely death.

This specific 1885 edition published by J.B. Lippincott is notable for its intricate illustrations by Will H. Low. Low, an American painter who studied in Paris, utilized the aesthetic style popular in the late 19th century to interpret the poem's melancholic and ethereal atmosphere. The edition was well-received upon release for its elegant typography and high production values, solidifying the poem's place in the canon of beautifully illustrated Victorian-era literary works.