Henry Vaughan

by Henry Vaughan

One of the most important of the seventeenth-century Metaphysical Poets, Henry Vaughan is interesting not only for his own work, but for his imaginative use of the style of his predecessor, George Herbert. This collection presents the complete text of Silex Scitillans , including material in
both the 1650 and 1655 editions, and is the only edition of selected poems available.

Genres: Poetry

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1995

About the author

Henry Vaughan (1621-1695) was a Welsh author, physician and metaphysical poet.

Vaughan and his twin brother, the hermetic philosopher and alchemist, Thomas Vaughan, were the sons of Thomas Vaughan and his wife Denise (née Morgan) of 'Trenewydd', Newton, in Brecknockshire, Wales. Their grandfather, William, was the owner of Tretower Court.

Vaughan spent most of his life in the village of Llansantffraed, near Brecon, where he is also buried.

Reviews

[Ceste Stanly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this amazing poet after reading one of his poems in an anthology while browsing thru a bookstore. In the mid-2000s, I wasn't able to locate a recently published collection of his, so I did interlib loan. The book was so old that the library wouldn't let me take it out of the library. I devoured & typed out as many as I could (back then I couldn't find very many of his poems on the internet either). In 2021, I was happy to find many options of recently published books of his poems. Adds such depth to my Scripture devotions

[J. Alfred · Rating 2 out of 5]

You've probably come across some of Vaughan's poems in anthologies, or at least references to some of his lines in other writers. This smaller acquaintance has probably led you to think, 'Hey, this Vaughan guy sounds interesting. I'd like to see more of his work.' I regret to tell you that this impulse, often a fruitful one, is in this case misleading.
Vaughan called his book of poems "Silex Scintillans," "the flashing flint": every once in a while the flint flashes, but most of the time it's just-- ah-- rocky. This is the kind of poetry that requires the closest attention to get anything out of, and the reward is often sadly inadequate. Vaughan is less daring and muscular than Donne, less sedate and benevolent than Herbert. He is lugubrious (there are references to 'lakes of tears' and the like quite a lot), so involved as to be at times almost a secret language, and simply dull. This was not a good experience, which is sad because a few of the poems in here are really magnificent, for instance "Peace" which I think we should probably all memorize.

[Jad Wannous · Rating 3 out of 5]

THEY are all gone into the world of light!
And I alone sit lingring here;
Their very memory is fair and bright,
And my sad thoughts doth clear.
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O Father of eternal life, and all
Created glories under thee!
Resume thy spirit from this world of thrall
Into true liberty.