- Eight passionate love letters penned by the poet John Keats to his fiancée, Fanny Brawne, which were stolen nearly 40 years ago, have been recovered and are now set to be displayed and subsequently auctioned.
- The letters will first be exhibited at Sotheby’s New Bond Street in London from 11-15 May, marking their first public display in the city in 140 years, before being sold at Sotheby’s New York in June.
- These historic correspondences are anticipated to fetch between $1.5m and $2.5m (£1.11m to £1.85m) at the upcoming auction.
- The collection provides an intimate glimpse into Keats's intense relationship with Brawne, featuring declarations of profound affection and reflections on the 'pains and torments' of their separation.
- The letters resurfaced in New York this year after being brought to a Manhattan rare book dealer, and were subsequently returned to the Whitney estate on 20 April, in coordination with the New York District Attorney’s office.
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