John Keats (1795-1821), autograph letter signed to Fanny Brawne, Kentish Town, 5 July 1820
tour: Love Letters
For those in the City of Brotherly Love.... a romance, quite modern.....
Love Letters, from Poet John Keats to Fanny Brawne
October 9-December 16. 2010
As part of the museum’s popular Hands-On Tours, the Rosenbach Museum & Library will present Love Letters, a peek into some of the most personal and emotional writing in the museum’s collections, including some of the most famous, and touching original love letters written by poet John Keats to his beloved, Fanny Brawne. The first Love Letters Hands-On Tour of the fall will be held on Friday, October 9 at 3 p.m., with additional tours offered on November 13 and December 16.
Coinciding with Love Letters is the release of the highly-acclaimed motion picture
Bright Star, a drama about the intense love affair between John Keats (Ben Whishaw) and Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish), the latest film from Academy Award-winning director, Jane Campion (The Piano).
Love Letters presents a rare look at the museum’s collection of love letters, from the aching yearnings of John Keats for Fanny Brawne, to the dying wishes of a Civil War soldier writing home to his family. The museum’s Hands-On Tours offer audiences an intimate and unique view of the Rosenbach by inviting visitors to examine, touch, and read directly from the collections. Objects discussed and handled in the Love Letters tour include:
• A love letter from John Keats to Fanny Brawne, written just before he died.
• A love letter from Marlene Dietrich to Mercedes de Acosta, begging her forgiveness.
• A forged loved letter from Shakespeare to Anne Hathaway.
• A love letter from Benjamin Rush to Julia Rush, outlining in a very scientific fashion the principles behind a successful marriage.
Bright Star explores how the love letters exchanged during the romance strengthen the bond between the Keats and Brawne, while circumstances bigger than love take hold of their future together. Bright Star premiered at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival to rave reviews. Film Critic Kenneth Turan of the Los Angels Times hailed the film as, “One of the major successes of this year’s Cannes Film Festival... Bright Star is one of the most deeply moving romantic films in memory,” while The New York Times calls it, "Romantic in every possible sense of the word." For more about the film, visit www.brightstar-movie.com or watch/embed the trailer at www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTetIodauIM.
The Rosenbach’s Hands-On Tours are approximately one hour in length and free with museum admission. In addition to Love Letters, various Hands-On Tours exploring different subjects are provided every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday through December 2009 at 3 p.m. Tours are limited to six guests, ages 8 and up. No RSVP required. The Rosenbach Museum & Library is located at 2008-2010 Delancey Place and is open Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for students, and free for children under 5.
For more information please visit www.rosenbach.org.










I am amazed with how beautiful the story of Keats and Brawne is. I wish to know more about it, I feel great interest in it.
Posted by: Leticia Prado | 2010.06.13 at 09:18 PM