“This moment I have set myself to copy some verses out fair. I cannot proceed with any degree of content. I must write you a line or two and see if that will assist in dismissing you from my Mind for ever so short a time. Upon my Soul I can think of nothing else – The time is passed when I had power to advise and warn you again[s]t the unpromising morning of my Life – My love has made me selfish. I cannot exist without you – I am forgetful of every thing but seeing you again – my Life seems to stop there – I see no further. You have absorb’d me. I have a sensation at the present moment as though I was dissolving – I should be exquisitely miserable without the hope of soon seeing you. I should be afraid to separate myself far from you. My sweet Fanny, will your heart never change? My love, will it? I have no limit now to my love – You note came in just here – I cannot be happier away from you – ‘T is richer than an Argosy of Pearles. Do not threat me even in jest. I have been astonished that Men could die Martyrs for religion – I have shudder’d at it – I shudder no more – I could be martyr’d for my Religion – Love is my religion – I could die for that – I could die for you. My Creed is Love and you are its only tenet – You have ravish’d me away by a Power I cannot resist: and yet I could resist till I saw you; and even since I have seen you I have endeavoured often “to reason against the reasons of my Love.” I can do that no more – the pain would be too great – My Love is selfish – I cannot breathe without you.
Yours for ever John Keats “
This is one of the many love letters that passed between the romantic poet John Keats and his next-door neighboor Fanny Brawne nearly 200 years ago. Their love story was a terribly tragic one and cut short at John’s death at the age of 25 in 1821 form tuberculosis,but their love letters remain amongst the most famous every written. John was buried clutching an unopened love letter by Fanny.
Ben Whishaw as John Keats, 'floating above the trees'
Edie Martin as 'Toots'
I quietly wept my way though ‘Bright Star’…I hadn’t seen a beautiful love story for so long ! It was very intimately told and the picture sparsely decorated, in that there were only very few characters ( I adored Fanny’s little redhead sister, Toots) and period details, which gave the film a quiet sincerity and timelessness. And despite it being a very romantic love story that included the main characters reciting poems to one another it never came across as soppy. I think that was mainly down to the two main actors, Ben Whishaw and Abbie Cornish, who are both terribly gifted, and among the few (thankfully) underexposed young actors who are quietly weaving their way to the top by being truthful and devoted to their craft.
I had seen Abbie in the beautifully shot ‘Somersault’ a few years ago, but hardly recognised her in Bright Star…..
I also found an interesting interview with Ben Whishaw where he discusses what it was like becoming John Keats…
Part 2 of the interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EKmkiR0-20
