Between22Juneand18August1818,JohnKeatsandhisfriendandcollaboratorCharlesArmitageBrownembarkedonanepicwalkingtouroftheEnglishLakeDistrict,SouthWestScotland,NorthernIreland,theAyrshireBurnsCountry,theScottishHighlandsandWesternIsles,andtheGreatGlennortheastwardstoInverness,Beauly,theBlackIsle,andCromarty.Duringthetour,KeatsandBrownbothwroteextensiveanddetailedaccountsoftheirexperiences.Thetwelvenewessaysinthiscollectioneachexplorethesignificanceofthe1818tourforunderstandingKeats’sachievements,rangingacrosstopicssuchasthecontemporaryHighlandtour;Scottishliterature,history,landscapeandculture;RomanticresponsestoRobertBurns’slife,worksandplaces;andKeats’shealthandinfluenceonScottishartists.
