Clare in London

Clare took four trips to London. The first as a literary sensation paraded about by his publisher, John Taylor. He was completely unprepared for London salons, snickered at for his green coat and poor manners. While he met powerful allies, this first trip, and sudden celebrity also made the return to his village difficult. The closest modern example I can think of is dear Susan Boyle.

John Taylor also published Keats. While Clare and Keats never met, they read each other’s work. Keats thought Clare unsophisticated and lacking grand ideas, while Clare, unsurprisingly, thought Keats a bit full of hot air.

Today continued the bumbling antics of the off-season tourists as the Keats house was closed, but we did manage a stop in the National Portrait Gallery on the way to look at bicycle jerseys!

More scotch eggs! We would highly recommend you make a reservation at Bull & Last in Kentish Town. Incredible English food with hare, partridge, and pollack on the menu. We even had a dessert of rhubarb clafoutis with horseradish ice cream!

Hampstead Heath, famous for its fresh air, view of London, and the walk of Samuel Coleridge and John Keats.

Hampstead Heath, famous for its fresh air, view of London, and Samuel Coleridge and John Keats’ walk.

Keats House. I think any writer would kill to have the year of writing Keats had here, including his famous odes. The neighborhood is quite lovely to walk around in.

Keats House.

I took Victor to look at Stanford’s. We are so coming back for more walking!

I sometimes feel bad for my husband: we get to the Portrait Gallery, and I am like, “Bang! The Regency rooms!” Blowing right past special once in a lifetime exhibits on the Tudors, etc.

I would like to think John Clare would be gratified to hang in the National Portrait Gallery with Edward Jenner, discover of smallpox vaccination, and Robert Bakewell, father of animal husbandry, rather than the wall with Byron, the Shelley's and Southey.

I think John Clare would be gratified to hang in the National Portrait Gallery with Edward Jenner, discover of smallpox vaccination, and Robert Bakewell, father of animal husbandry, rather than the wall with Byron, the Shelley’s, and Southey.