The History of Literature 730 "To Autumn" by John Keats | The Invention of Charlotte Brontë (with Graham Watson) | My Last Book with Sara Charles
Sep 4, 2025
Graham Watson, a writer and editor specializing in the Brontës, joins to discuss his book on Charlotte Brontë's fascinating life as a mysterious celeb and passionate author. He details her complex relationships, especially with Elizabeth Gaskell, who posthumously shaped her legacy. The conversation also dives into the rich imagery of John Keats's 'To Autumn,' weaving in themes of beauty and decay. Additionally, Sara Charles shares her thoughts on the last book she'd ever read, providing a unique glimpse into literary passion.
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Autumn As Tempered Abundance
- Keats prized autumn for its tempered light, mellow abundance, and 'chaste' weather as equally shared gifts of air and light.
- His letter and poem reframe autumn as a softer, dignified season that combines plenty with decay.
Stubble Fields From Childhood
- Jacke recalls Midwestern stubble fields after harvest to illustrate Keats's 'warm' stubble imagery.
- He links that landscape to the poem's warmth and the cycle of decay feeding future growth.
Anonymity Sparked Victorian Speculation
- The Brontës initially published anonymously and aroused public curiosity about authorship, class, and gender.
- Victorian readers speculated wildly because the novels' voice didn't match expected class or gender assumptions.
