John Donne: Collected Poetry

by John Donne

Regarded by many as the greatest of the Metaphysical poets, John Donne (1572-1631) was also among the most intriguing figures of the Elizabethan age. A sensualist who composed erotic and playful love poetry in his youth, he was raised a Catholic but later became one of the most admired Protestant preachers of his time. The Collected Poetry reflects this wide diversity, and includes his youthful songs and sonnets, epigrams, elegies, letters, satires, and the profoundly moving Divine Poems composed towards the end of his life.

From joyful poems such as 'The Flea', which transforms the image of a louse into something marvellous, to the intimate and intense Holy Sonnets, Donne breathed new vigour into poetry by drawing lucid and often startling metaphors from the world in which he lived. His poems remain among the most passionate, profound and spiritual in the English language.

Genres: Poetry, Classics, British Literature

516 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 4, 2012

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

[Courtney Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's amazing to me how much of Donne's imagery went over my head as a very young woman. One of my favorites then and now.

[Humphrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Cross" is a personal favorite of mine; on the romantic end, "Air and Angels" is great. Donne is a master of the arresting image. I dig.

[Troy S]

Level music: October Song - The Incredible String Band, The Incredible String Band

[Bere Tarará · Rating 3 out of 5]

Autor poco leído en México, me pareció irónico, atrevido y fácil de leer

[eva prowle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure there's anything to say about John Donne that hasn't already been said (by John Carey alone...)

his poems are beautifully written and crafted (but I'm not particularly fond of Elizabethan-era poetry as a whole, so he hasn't really sold me there). plus, his use of everyday ideas and concepts in a more romantic lens is oftentimes ingenious, or at the very least somewhat fascinating.

his shifting portrayal of women is the most notable element of his poems for me, and it's what I keep coming back to when I try to synthesize an overall opinion of his works; they oscillate between blatant misogyny and shockingly progressive views seemingly at random.

I really struggle to tell whether he is genuinely writing under an exaggerated persona or if the words really reflect his own opinion. unfortunately, we will never know for certain.

For God's sake hold your tongue, and let me love,
Or chide my palsy, or my gout...
Contemplate: what you will, approve,
So you will let me love.
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[Lakshmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

SLAPPED ME OUT OF ENDSEM SLUMBER !! Mr Donne can shoot me and my last words will be, thank you😔

[Spartacus · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay and so finally he is making some sense a year later good grief. unclassical and tortured, holy man who loveees to sin.