Probably composed during the second half of 1797, Coleridge’s famous poem “Kubla Khan” was not published until 1816, when it appeared in a slim volume entitled

. Although Coleridge describes “Kubla Khan” in his apologetic preface of 1816 as a mere “psychological curiosity”, the poem is widely celebrated as a poetic

and a complex investigation of the psychology of creativity and inspiration. But obviously Coleridge was uncomfortable with publishing the poem and withheld it from the public for almost 20 years, sharing it with only a select few fellow writers and then most often in recitation. Coleridge enjoyed performing the poem for other poets who he felt might appreciate its eccentricities, chanting it to…

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Citation: Robinson, Daniel. "Kubla Khan". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 19 January 2010 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=23056, accessed 26 November 2024.]