John Donne

by John Donne, John Carey (Editor)

Unparalleled in scope, this important volume provides the most comprehensive selection to date of Donne's works. In addition to the poems, it contains excerpts from all the prose writings, including such unfamiliar items as Donne's private letters, his comic onslaught on the Jesuits, Ignatius
His Conclave , and his defense of suicide in Biathanotos . In addition, Carey presents over 130 excerpts from sermons culled from Donne's sixteen-year preaching career, concluding with the full text of his last sermon, Death's Duel .

Genres: Poetry, Classics, Literature, Metaphysics

528 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1633

About the author

John Donne was an English poet, preacher and a major representative of the metaphysical poets of the period. His works are notable for their realistic and sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs, satires and sermons. His poetry is noted for its vibrancy of language and inventiveness of metaphor, especially as compared to that of his contemporaries.

Despite his great education and poetic talents, he lived in poverty for several years, relying heavily on wealthy friends. In 1615 he became an Anglican priest and, in 1621, was appointed the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral in London.

Reviews

[ValeReads Kyriosity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not good at comprehending poetry, but it's a muscle I occasionally feel I should exercise a bit more. When I do, I figure going to the poets I already know I love (in my feeble way) is the most likely path to success. Hence this little volume of Donne. What a gift he had! I may not see all the meaning, but the beauty and brilliance are inescapable.

My only complaint (outside my own stupidity) is a couple of quibbles about this edition. A poet who was such a master of both rhyme and reason surely deserves the employment of both in the ordering of his works. Throwing the romantic and religious works in a blender and pouring them out in random order was a poor choice. Also, two narrators were used, and, rare for me with Naxos productions, I didn't care for one of them.

If someone knows of a completer, less chaotic, and beautifully read audio edition of Donne's writing, please point me to it!

[Andy Hickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Donne: Great English Poets, by Peter Porter.
Delightful assortment of Donne’s poetry, with a wonderful collection of coloured paintings throughout this hard-cover book. I’m so glad I found this edition. *****

"It was during this period of eclipse that Donne wrote his most impassioned religious poetry, in particular the Holy Sonnets. These superbly wrought products of his guilt are really poems in search of faith, not statements of belief." (p11)
"However extreme the conceits and comparisons, his writing is always true to the naturalistic surface of life. Nothing can stale these audacious poems. They are exaggerations we know to be more true than any measured description could ever be." (p12)

Poems include:
“The Sun Rising” - Opens with “Busy old fool, unruly son…” ABBA CDCD EE. Deflating the overrated, elevating the worthy. This guy feels the world in a sensational perspective.

“Break of Day” - Rhyming couplets. Good poem about not being so busy that you miss daily ‘life’.

“A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” - “So let us melt …” Farewell at the death of a soul-mate. Surely this had been read by Emily Bronte and influenced her poetic expressions and novel ‘Wuthering Heights’, e.g. “Our two souls therefore, which are one..”

“The Relic” - How can this not be an influence for ‘Wuthering Heights’? Look at this poem! It opens with:
“When my grave is broke up again
Some second guest to entertain,
(For graves have learn'd that woman head,
To be to more than one a bed)
And he that digs it, spies
A bracelet of bright hair about the bone,
Will he not let'us alone,
And think that there a loving couple lies,
Who thought that this device might be some way
To make their souls, at the last busy day,
Meet at this grave, and make a little stay?”

“Death, Be Not Proud. Holy Sonnet X” - “Death, thou shalt die.”

“Batter My Heart, Three-Person’d God - Holy Sonnet XIV” - One of my all-time favourite poems, an anthem, a mantra “.. you ravish me.”
………………………………………………..

[Sabrina K · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 / 5 stars

"Wee can dye by it, if not live by love,
And if unfit for tombes and hearse
Our legend bee, it will be fit for verse"
- Donne, "The Canonization"

John Donne is quite the character. Although not my all-time favourite poet and writer, he does bring readers to a state of melancholic happiness - creating such juxtaposition is quite common, but Donne adapts this to his own flair and personality.

I found myself laughing at certain poems for their overdramatic love-sick style, but then again, I would also find myself deeply sighing in woe as his heartbroken words filled my heart...

Either way, his melodrama entertained me!

[Lexi Norvet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely need to read more stuff by this looney toon. In an age of so much rote cynicism about existence this book is genuinely refreshing, bracing, and sends the mind whirling with new thoughts!

[A Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't say I missed reading Elizabethan poetry