Books: Keats's Forgotten Friend

AGAINST OBLIVION—Sheila Blrken-heod—Macmillan ($3).

When the Nazis were driven from Rome three weeks ago, it is probable that few among the liberating forces realized that they had liberated, among other things, the grave of John Keats. The romantic poet is buried in Rome's Protestant Cemetery. Last week, by a timely coincidence, the first full-length account of Joseph Severn, the little known English artist who accompanied Keats to Rome, cared for him loyally during his last days, was published in the U.S.

Against Oblivion is not exactly a fictionized biography, since letters and diaries...