Selected Poems

by Richard Crashaw, Robin Holloway (Editor)

A 400th anniversary edition of one of the most inventive metaphysical poets, this compilation features the work of Richard Crashaw, one of the most emulated poets of his day, and famous for experimenting with the metaphor. A great inspiration for many modern poets, including T. S. Eliot, Crashaw's emergence as a poet at the University of Cambridge is through these ethereal and touching these poems. This account often explores Crashaw's faith and changing relationship with God.

Genres: Poetry, Classics

220 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 2013

About the author

Born in 1613, Richard Crashaw was an English poet, teacher, High Church Anglican cleric and Roman Catholic convert, who was one of the major metaphysical poets in 17th-century English literature.

Reviews

[Sam Bizarrus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't love Crashaw. He strikes me as a derivative emulator of George Herbert. Still, I'm struck by his obsession with Saint Teresa -- I too am obsessed with her, and I would probably convert to Catholicism because of her, too, if I weren't already committed to not believing in God. And if you are going to copy another poet, why not copy Herbert -- he is brilliant. Crashaw also has a lot of Miltonic overlap--like if Herbert were too affective and Milton too obsessed with Italy. Baroque.

[Kev Nickells]

Not sure if this is the same edition as the one I read. It's metaphysical poetry. It's this really preposterous and often quite emo stuff that's kind of about Jesus but is a lot more fulsome and bloody than just being Christ-y. I'd not spent time with him before which is silly because he's clearly banging

[oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

really interesting, weird stuff. if anything, i wanted it to be longer.