Poems

In 1763, Thomas Chatterton, an 11-year-old boy from a poor background, began publishing poetry under the guise of a fictional 15th-century poet, Thomas Rowley. Despite his talent and early success, including recognition from notable figures, he struggled to sustain a living from his writing. His life ended tragically at seventeen when he took his own life. This collection features his controversial Rowley poems, which remained undiscovered as forgeries until after his death, and includes works that influenced major Romantic poets.