Hopkins: The Mystic Poets

by Gerard Manley Hopkins, Thomas Ryan (Preface)

Discover How Hopkins's Spiritual Life and Vision Can Enlighten Your Own

"Poetry and art and music seize upon the human experience in ways that reveal new possibilities of intimacy with the Divine. In the way they reach out and grab us by the heart at unexpected times, they reaffirm that the Holy will meet us when it chooses...."
--from the Preface by Rev. Thomas Ryan, CSP

Gerard Manley Hopkins, Christian mystical poet, is beloved for his use of fresh language and startling metaphors to describe the world around him. Beneath the surface of this lovely verse lies a searching soul, wrestling with and yearning for God. Hopkins writes from a Christian background, and yet his themes speak to people of all faiths who seek a deeper understanding of the presence of God in all of life.

This beautiful sampling of Hopkins's poetry offers a glimpse into his unique spiritual vision that continues to inspire readers throughout the world. The poems unite his two devotions, presenting mystical images of Christ in the natural world, which serve as a window through which you might also begin to see the Divine Presence in the world around you.

Genres: Poetry

112 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2004

About the author

Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889) was an English poet, Roman Catholic convert, and Jesuit priest, whose 20th-century fame established him posthumously among the leading Victorian poets. His experimental explorations in prosody (especially sprung rhythm) and his use of imagery established him as a daring innovator in a period of largely traditional verse.

Reviews

[Gerry LaFemina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hopkins is one of my favorite poets, and this collection with its introductory essays about what it means to be a mystic poet, and the brief stages of Hopkins's life and how they pertain to his poetry, is a strong primer on Hopkins. Lovely.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a small book and the first half of it gives you information on both Hopkins and on reading his poems. The language has changed enough in the last 100 years that the poems would be very hard to read without the information. As with all poetry, some winners, some losers.