THE DEVOTED SISTER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23442, 5 March 1938, Page 4

THE DEVOTED SISTER

A BIOGRAPHY OF FANNY KEATS " Fanny Keats." By Marie A .dami. London: Murray. 17s.

Everything is of interest that throws light on the personality and genius of so great a poet as Keats. It is broadly true to say that, except for the fact that sh£ was the sister of Keats, there is nothing of exceptional interest in

the life of Fanny Keats. But this book will be 'welcomed because of the further revelation it affords of the deep brotherly love of Keats for his sister and her life-long devotion to his memory. Fanny was born in 1803, and died in 1889, and it comes as a surprise to the reader tc realise that she survived into such comparatively recent times. It is also pleasant to know that from one source and another she had a fortune of about £4500, and in 1826, at the age of twenty-three, made a happy marriage. Her husband, who had met Keats during his last days in Rome, was a Spanish gentleman, Senor Valentine Llanos. After a few years they went to live in Spain, and her husband was for some time Spanish Consul in Gibraltar. At one period, through a fortunate speculation, he became "an uncommonly prosperous gentleman." About 1863 LockerLampson met them in Rome, and described Fanny as " fat, blonde, and lymphatic . . . She has nothing to tell me of her wizard brother, of whom she spoke as of a mystery—with a vague admiration, but with genuine affection. She was simple and natural. I believe she is a very worthy woman." Mrs Adami considers that this does less than justice to her humour, shrewdness, and ability, which she would be slow to show to a stranger, as she had nr> craving for society. Late in life her finances became straitened, and; through the help of English friends she was given a grant from the Queen's Bounty and a small public subscription. > Fanny Keats carefully kept all her brother's letters in a little bundle, and regarded them as sacred relics, although she never appears to have re-read them after the first perusal of them. It was. this worship of her brother's memory that caused her to resent Fannv Brawne's marriage twelve years after the deatli of Keats. During his short and tragic life Keats displayed such deep solicitude for his sister's welfare, and such a charming understanding of her youthful problems, that everything . that throws further light on their mutual love is of interest to the modern reader. Moreover, it is now generally agreed that Keats's letters show him to be a great artist in.prose as well as poetry. Mrs Adami visited the two grandchildren of Fanny Keats in Spain, and gathered much interesting information rbout 'heir grandmother. She also makes clear that it was through the generosity of Fanny, that nearly fifty of her brother's letters came into the possession, of the British nation. This book incorporates the result of much ; careful research, and .throws light on Keats from a new and valu-. able source. •. W.':D. S.