Poems of John Donne

by John Donne, Elizabeth Howard (Introduction)

"Batter my heart, three-person’d God, for youAs yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;

That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend

Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new." ~Holy Sonnet

John Donne was one of the great "metaphysical poets" in Elizabethan England. His work helped establish the English tradition of poetry, and influenced everyone afterwards from Alexander Pope to T.S. Eliot. Donne lived a tumultuous life before settling down and becoming the dean of St. Paul's cathedral. He wrote everything from love sonnets to satires and elegies, but his greatest poems are undoubtedly the holy sonnets.

In this new edition of the complete 1633 collection of Donne's poems, we see the work of a mature Christian poet and pastor writing about love, suffering, and our need for God.

"We as readers get to enjoy an experience akin to serendipity--the gift of an unlooked-for connection that answers questions we didn't know we had... The pleasure of poetry is often its principal power in turning us around and moving us towards the good and the beautiful, and in them, towards God himself." ~From Elizabeth Howard's introduction

378 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2021

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

[Douglas Gates]

Wonderful poetry. Wanted this book to be longer.