One Equall Light: An Anthology of the Writings of John Donne [Hardcover]

John Moses (Author), Rowan Williams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2004

This unique anthology, compiled by a recent successor of John Donne to the Deanery of St Pauls Cathedral, One Equall Light gives prominence to the vast body of prose works left by the great metaphysical poet. All who love Donnes poetry will be delighted to find in this selection clear evidence of a restless and passionately spiritual writer. An extended foreword by Rowan Williams and introductory essay by John Moses consider this complex and contradictory character and explore the wellsprings of his creative genius. Numerous editions of the poetry of John Donne are available but until this volume, his prose writings were only accessible in scholarly university press editions. Including over 1000 extracts, this is a feast for the many people who enjoy the dramatic beauty of the poetry, a selection of which is also included here.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

JOHN MOSES compiled this anthology while he was Dean of St Pauls Cathedral a post John Donne held and in which he wrote much of the material that appears in this anthology. Now retired, John Moses lives in Southwell. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; 1St Edition edition (February 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802827721
• ISBN-13: 978-0802827722
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #731,319 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A bright, shining light..., June 10, 2004

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FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: One Equall Light: An Anthology of the Writings of John Donne (Hardcover)

John Donne, in addition to being one of the leading lights in Anglican church history as well as the art of use of the English language, was once Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, London - a distinction he shares with John Moses, the editor of this great volume of his work. The volume begins on an auspicious note, with a Foreword by the current Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, who likens Donne to both a saint and sinner (which, of course, he was); his contribution to the English language is rare in both poetry and prose, and his legacy as part of the Anglican tradition and ethos is unending.

John Moses begins with a three-part introduction about Donne, his life, work, and spirit. Dating events and writings are difficult, but the overall development is fairly clear. Donne's poetry is much better known than his sermons (despite the fact that some excerpts - 'For whom the bell tolls', for example - come from sermon and meditation sources), but Donne's popularity has experienced a resurgence of late. This is part of the impetus for this volume. There is an irony here, since Donne apparently was interested and well organised in preserving his sermons, but didn't seem to care much to preserve his poetry.

Moses' introductory essays (which include a piece on Donne's time at St. Paul's, undoubtedly a labour of love in contrast and comparison with Moses' own experience) are only a small portion of the volume. By far the greatest portion is the collection of quotations, more than 1000 of them, organised topically. Throughout the texts, some as short as a few lines, and some which go on for pages, there is a tension between the sacred and secular, the worldly and the otherworldly. Donne's fitful life, full of passion and despair, triumph and failure, provides a very fertile field from which Donne's poetic voice and prose compositions spring.

Donne married his love, Ann, against the wishes of her father, who cut them off and cost Donne his job. Years of poverty and the reliance on strangers gave Donne both a sense of grace and gratitude as well as a sense of despair and tragedy; through love and generosity, anger and passion, foolishness and sublime creativity, Donne experienced life fully, and incorporated this into his writing. Ann's relatively early death most likely inspired Donne to a deeper religious sense of vocation and connection with God.

As part of the group of writers who formed the English Renaissance, Donne was a true artist, even though he didn't acknowledge his early poetry later in his life. Along with writers such as Marlowe, Spenser, Bacon, and Shakespeare, Donne's influence continues to be felt in diverse ways throughout ages of poets and writers, to the present generations. T.S. Eliot is but the brightest of twentieth century lights to owe much to Donne.

Donne's Anglican sensibilities also help define the present via media of the church - living at a time between solid Roman Catholicism and solid state Anglicanism, he learned to navigate a middle path with skill and sensitivity, never being contrived or forced in directions lacking spiritual integrity. This sense is greatly needed in the church today.

This is a glorious volume, full of life, and light.