Status Updates From The Family Romance of the I...

It is fascinating to see how Chatterton, a teenage poet whom I'd previously considered extremely obscure, engaged with well-known figures of the day and how the rejection of his plans to glorify Bristol through forgeries psychologically signified a break with his imposturous identity and a willingness to be an active (indeed a very politically active) part of the reality of modern society.

Until now, I had been unaware of the extensiveness of Chatterton's influence and his involvement with major figures (authors and political dissenters) of his day, as well as his ambition to become head journalist of the Patriot Party.

It is interesting to follow the evolution of Chatterton's style and the change in poetic mode that occurred when he became disillusioned with Rowley and Canynge, who were being rejected by 18th-century audiences.

Kaplan attributes this behaviour to the "silent mourning" of adolescents who have a tendency to idealize their innocent pasts but find themselves unwillingly on the verge of adulthood.

It is fascinating to learn about the intricacies of Chatterton's fabrication process and the steps he took to guarantee that the illusion would hold out.