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John Donne: Selections from Divine Poems, Sermons, Devotions and Prayers (Classics of Western Spirituality)

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"John Donne: Selections from Divine Poems, Sermons, Devotions, and Prayers" is a collection of Donne's work with a particular focus: those writings of Donne that especially reveal his Christian spirituality.

This Classics of Western Spirituality volume of Donne's writing begins with a lengthy introduction to Donne's works and provides not only a biography of Donne but also an account of his spiritual journey, and an introduction to his poems, sermons, devotions, and prayers. What emerges is a picture of Donne as much more than a master of English poetry.

As far as the poetry itself, John Donne wrote some of the most beautiful, intelligent, and passionate poetry in the English language! With some poets you get 1 or 2 of these qualities: with Donne you get all 3, and so I highly recommend his poetry to all lovers of poetry and English literature. The language is archaic and at times difficult, but that's also some of its beauty and charm. What's more noteworthy but less noticed than the oldness of the language is how fresh and alive it still seems and must have seemed in centuries past! While I love Donne's poetry especially because of his intelligent and beautiful passion for God, even those without religious faith will appreciate the brilliance and glory of Donne's poetry.

If you're able to keep up with Donne's poetry, you'll discover startling phrases and juxtapositions which were frowned upon in ages past but which I find helps invigorate the modern reader. Whether your primary way of apprehending poetry is religious, intellectual, or aesthetic, Donne will be a delight to you as it does me. Donne's poetry also has a very personal association with me: when I was courting my wife and in the early years of my marriage, I would read her the poetry of Donne and George Herbert. She not only loved the poetry but loved me more for having read it to her!

But actually, this particular volume has selected only those poems that particularly reveal Donne's spirituality, and more space is devoted to Donne's sermons than to his poetry. In some ways, Donne actually saw his calling as preacher is his main calling, and more attention should be paid to Donne's sermons by both preachers and lovers of literature. The Devotions are more well-known than the sermons, but Donne's prayers at the end of the volume are a welcome treat.

You won't find a comprehensive collection of Donne's poetry or other works, as you might find in other editions. But because of the particular devotional focus of this volume, it too is highly recommended!