Authorities have recovered stolen literary works that had been missing for decades, including eight personal letters written by 19th-century Romantic poet John Keats and rare novels by acclaimed authors Oscar Wilde and James Joyce.

The Keats letters were addressed to his fiancée, Fanny Brawne, and were originally taken from a Whitney family estate on Long Island decades ago. The correspondence represents some of the poet's most personal writings during his brief life, as Keats died at age 25 in 1821.

The recovery operation took place in New York City, where the stolen literary materials were located. The items had been missing for several decades before being discovered by authorities.

The collection includes works by some of the most significant writers in English literature. Oscar Wilde, the Irish playwright and author known for works like "The Picture of Dorian Gray," and James Joyce, the Irish modernist author of "Ulysses," are considered among the most influential literary figures of their respective eras.

Details about how the items were recovered or whether any arrests were made have not been disclosed. The investigation appears to be part of ongoing efforts to locate and return stolen cultural artifacts and literary works to their rightful owners or institutions.