Realms of Gold

I use audible for just such original titles as Realms of Gold. Some content is best to be read, while other titles are meant to be listened to, contemplated upon and slowly absorbed. Keats' letters fall in the latter category. Never before have I heard a better voice speaking on Keats' behalf. The rich voice of the British narrator brings the poet alive, despite Keats' untimely death in Italy so long ago, in a way that I could never do reading alone, and frees me up to enjoy the richness, texture and ideas that Keats left to the world. Truly a gift. In Realms, some of Keats' best poems are interlaced with his letters, augmented with just the right amount of narration to give the listener important perspective on Keats' life. This is as well-balanced of an offering as you'll find and I can't recommend it enough.

I can't recall a lovelier afternoon than the one I just spent listening to this audiobook. Keats was the first poet with whom I fell in love way back when I was in my early teens. This selection of his poems, interspered with letters written concurrently and even sometimes mentioned in the letters, is beautifully read by West (one of the best narrators ever, in my opinion) and Marsh. I can't recommend this one highly enough to anyone who loves Keats.