Product Description

John Donne (1572-1631) is perhaps the most important poet of the seventeenth century. In his day it seemed to his admirers that Donne had changed the literary universe, and he is now widely regarded as the founder of the metaphysical `school'. Donne's poetry is highly distinctive and individual, adopting a multitude of rhythms, images, forms, and personae, from irresistible seducer to devout believer. His greatness stems from the subtleties and ambivalences of tone that convey his remarkably modern awareness of the instability of the self. This collection of Donne's verse is chosen from the Oxford Authors critical edition of his major works. It includes a wide selection from his secular and divine poems, such as the rebellious and libertine satires and love elegies, the virtuoso Songs and Sonnets, and the desperate, passionate Holy Sonnets. John Carey's introduction and extensive notes provide valuable insights into Donne's poetic genius.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #194460 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

About the Author
John Carey is Merton Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford. His books include the critical biography John Donne: Life, Mind and Art, as well as critical studies of Donne, Milton, Dickens, and Thackeray.

Customer Reviews

Excellent introduction to his work
The review which appears on this page seems to be rather out-of-place, inasmuch as, despite her many qualities, Vanessa Redgrave has little to do with John Donne's poetry, at least in any direct sense. As such, it seems a new review is necessary.

The majority of people who buy this book will be in the business of studying it, and for that purpose it is well equipped. The text has been modernised, but those who need an original spelling edition will not be looking at a "selected" edition, so we need not let that worry us. Indeed, there is much to be said for setting the idiosyncrasies of 16th century orthography to one side, although the modern rendering sometimes loses the charm of the original, and flexibility of the old spelling system did allow for a reflection of stresses that are no longer so clear.

If you are not studying Donne, then this volume will give you all the poems you need, and many more. All the favourites are here, from the bawdy through to the divine, and there are dozens more gems to be found.

My only caveat with this edition lies with the introduction by John Carey. In many ways it is excellent, but it would have been useful to have had more grounding in contemporary context. However, there exists the excellent Cambridge Companion to John Donne which offers a far more detailed range of essays.

So the decision has to be reached as to whether this deserves four or five stars. The poetry, of course, is belittled by even the highest star rating, but the edition is not yet perfect. However, for most people's needs it is far more than sufficient, and besides, it's John Donne, who remains the finest poet ever to have written in the English language.

Good Selection of Donne
This is a good selection of poetry from the most well known and best metaphysical poet. There is everything you would expect from a collection of John Donne's work including his songs, sonnets, elegies and even his letters in verse.

I can't say that Donne is one of my favourite poets to read but he is without doubt a master of the language and I particularly like `The Flea'. This particular edition has a chronology of Donne's life and times, a decent intro and some thorough notes.

Cross-gender vocal conceits by the Redgraves' rich voices
If you follow the Redgraves in and out of theatre ( Shakespeare, Noel Coward and political campaigning ), then this interplay of their voices stirs your flesh and mind together. Corin is intensely erotic and witty. Vanessa juggles gender with her deep rich voice, often addressing another woman through the male poet's persona. This precision forecasts her role as Prospero in ' The Tempest ' at the Shakespeare Globe in summer 2000.