The Poetry of John Donne

A leading metaphysical poet of the English Renaissance, John Donne was also an orator, adventurer, politician, theologian, and essayist. An intriguing combination of romantic and pragmatist, he lived an eventful life marked by extreme changes in fortune - one moment a member of parliament and high-ranking civil servant, the next an impoverished father struggling to support a growing family Known only to a few friends and patrons during his lifetime, Donne's poetry is immediate yet considered, sensitive yet vivid. This collection includes love poems, satires, elegies, and divine meditations. Whether addressing matters carnal or holy, Donne's ingenious use of metaphor, simile, and other conceits, together with his eloquence and emotional honesty, result in an arrestingly modern poetic voice.