John Donne was a seminal English poet and preacher, a leading figure of the metaphysical poets. His works are distinguished by their realistic and sensual style, noted for the vibrancy of their language and inventiveness of metaphor. Donne's poetry stands out for its originality and energy, setting him apart from his contemporaries. His writing encompasses sonnets, love poetry, religious verse, satires, and sermons, often exploring profound philosophical themes.
The book explores the transformative power of poetry, highlighting its ability to create unexpected connections that resonate deeply with readers. It emphasizes how poetry can lead individuals toward beauty and goodness, ultimately guiding them on a spiritual journey toward God. Through this lens, the work invites readers to appreciate the serendipitous experiences that poetry offers, enriching their understanding and emotional connection to the divine.
This edition features John Donne's Devotions, originally printed in 1624, showcasing the profound spiritual reflections of the poet and cleric. The text captures Donne's exploration of faith, mortality, and the human experience, offering readers a glimpse into his introspective and philosophical approach to devotion. The 1923 publication highlights the enduring relevance of Donne's thoughts and the historical context of his work.
Yet it is only this century that Donne has been indisputably established as a great poet—and even, many feel, the greatest love poet of them all. Jonson went on to remark that 'That Donne, for not keeping of an accent, deserved hanging', yet Donne's rhythms, once thought 'unmusical' are now recognized as the natural rhythms of the speaking voice; his 'eccentricity' as a complex self-doubt; his 'obscurity' the reflection of a brilliantly learned and allusive mind. Poets such as Eliot and Empson have found Donne's poetry profoundly attuned to our modern age, while Yeats' glowing comment will always be true: 'the intricacy and subtlety of his imagination are the length and depth of the furrow made by his passion.' This volume, superbly edited by Professor Smith, is the first complete edition to make a serious attempt to guide the reader closely through the complexities of Donne's poetry. Considerable attention has been paid to the text, and a selection of the important manuscript variants are included. This edition is also the first to make use of the newly discovered manuscript of the verse letter to Lady Carey and Mistress Essex Rich.
Janel Mueller's excellent edition is at once an accessible opening up of Donne's verse and prose for the modern reader, and a rich exploration of the material forms in which Donne's writing originally circulated. Mueller's generous notes, and a lightly modernised text, help readers with questions of genre, historical context, and biography, while facsimiles of manuscripts and printed editions, and discussions of early readers and later editorial responses, convey some of the latest research on the history of reading and of the material text. Adam Smyth, Balliol College, Oxford
This meditative prose conveys the essence of the human place in the world -- past and present.
Originally published in 1789 and 1794, this is a collection of some of Blake's best-loved poems. Intended for children, the poems were a popular success with adults of the time too.
Featuring a selection of classic poems, this collection offers an accessible introduction to the works of John Donne. The high-quality cloth edition enhances its appeal, making it an attractive gift for poetry lovers.
This authoritative edition was formerly published in the acclaimed Oxford Authors series under the general editorship of Frank Kermode. It brings together a unique combination of Donne's poetry and prose - all the major poems, complemented by rarely published letters and extracts from Donne's sermons - to give the essence of his work and thinking.
Originally published in April 1996, a collection of all the poems which are thought to have been written by John Donne, including his elegies, earthly and abstract love poems, songs and letters and sermons. In the OXFORD STANDARD AUTHORS series.
