The Rowley Poems

Set in 18th-century England, the story follows Thomas Chatterton, a prodigious young poet who, at just 11 years old, begins publishing under the guise of a fictional 15th-century poet, Thomas Rowley. Despite his talent and early acclaim from notable figures, Chatterton struggles to gain financial stability and ultimately succumbs to despair, taking his own life at 17. His legacy profoundly influenced Romantic poets like Coleridge and Keats. This volume features his controversial Rowley poems, along with an introduction and Keats' tribute sonnet.