The garden

by Andrew Marvell

Limited to 115 copies, signed and numbered by the illustrator. Four etchings by Lance Hidy. The text is the Harvard University Press reprint of the unique 1681 copy in The British Museum of Andrew Marvell's "Miscellaneous Poems." Very minimal shelf wear. not paginated. cloth, paper label on cover. 8vo.

Genres: Poetry, Classics

Paperback

First published January 7, 2012

About the author

Frequently satirical work of English metaphysical poet Andrew Marvell includes "To His Coy Mistress" and "The Definition of Love," both published posthumously.

A clergyman fathered Andrew Marvell, a parliamentarian. John Donne and George Herbert associated him. He befriended John Milton, a colleague.

The family moved to Hull, where people appointed his father as lecturer at church of Holy Trinity, and where grammar school educated the young Marvell. A secondary school in the city is now named after him.

He most famously composed The Garden , An Horatian Ode upon Cromwell's Return from Ireland , and the Country House Poem , Upon Appleton House .

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_...

Reviews

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The real object of the poet in writing this poem seems to have been to institute the pre-eminence of a meditative life over a life of action. True reflection, in line with the poet, is achievable only in the green shade of a tree in a garden. A garden offers calm and relaxation; and here one can take pleasure in the delights of the mind and soul as well as the gratification of the senses. A life of action, conversely, is ineffectual, and men make a blunder in spending their time in agitated endeavours in order to win honours in diverse fields of life.

[Suresh P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the poem is one of the best works from the 17th Century, the verses didn't move me as much as Andrew's 'To his Coy Mistress'. Comparing both the works is not fair as they have different theme. But even aside from the theme, 'The Garden' is sometimes difficult to grasp.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Garden' by Andrew Marvell [1621-1678] is worth reading. ****
"Society is all but rude,
To this delicious solitude."
A delightful Eden-isque sentimentality that concludes with:
"How could such sweet and wholesome hours
Be reckon’d but with herbs and flow’rs!"