The Complete Works of John Keats: Lamia. Isabella and posthumous poems to 1818

Published in 1820, Lamia, Isabella, The Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems represents the final collection of John Keats's work released during his lifetime. The volume was produced as Keats’s health was rapidly failing due to tuberculosis, and it remains a testament to his mature poetic voice. The collection was designed to showcase his mastery of the narrative poem, moving away from the sprawling, experimental style of Endymion toward a more refined, classical structure influenced by his deepening engagement with Greek mythology and medieval romance.

The publication was overseen by his publisher, John Taylor, and its reception marked a shift in the critical landscape for Keats. While his earlier works had been savaged by contemporary reviewers, this collection earned Keats genuine acclaim for his descriptive power and emotional depth. The inclusion of titles like Lamia and The Eve of St. Agnes cemented his reputation as one of the most significant voices of the Romantic era, establishing the aesthetic foundations for many poets who followed throughout the 19th century.