The Love Poems of John Donne (Hardcover)

by John Donne (Author), Charles Fowkes (Editor)
Key Phrases: Thou Love

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
John Donne's standing as one of the greatest poets in the English language is now thoroughly established, and critics such as T. S. Eliot and F. R. Leavis have found in Donne's poetry qualities profoundly responsive to the modern age. While Donne is famous for his religious poetry, his love poems are among the most beautiful ever written, and this collection brings them together for the first time.

Donne was a man who knew all the many faces of love-- physical passion, jealousy, rapture, grief and parting-- and possessed the genius to distill his experiences into poetry. The potency of his writing has lost none of its effect; Donne's love poetry taps the reservoir of feelings and emotions common to all human beings.

Before Donne was ordained as a priest in 1615, he wrote sonnets (such as "The Dream" and "The Ecstasy"), elegies (such as "To His Mistress Going to Bed" and "Love's Progress"), and wedding songs ("St. Valentine's Day" and "Epithalamion"), all of which glitter with an eroticism that truly marries body and soul.

Charles Fowkes, author of a critically acclaimed biography of Rembrandt and several anthologies of short stories, has gathered those poems in which Donne is most passionate and most lyrical. The result is this lovely volume- the perfect gift for every beloved, a book of poems to press flowers in and to keep by the heart.


About the Author
Charles Fowkes is the director of a London publishing company. Although he spends most of his time publishing the work of others his first love is writing. He has selected and introduced several collections of short stories, and his biography of Rembrandt, published in 1978, received great praise. The opportunity to select and introduce a collection of the love poetry of John Donne was irresistible to him, and his essay is a refreshing look at one of the finest wordsmiths the English language has known.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1 edition (October 15, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312499442
• ISBN-13: 978-0312499440
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #785,464 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent combination of writer and voice., June 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Love Poems of John Donne (Cdl5 1141) (Audio Cassette)

The voice of Richard Burton reciting John Donne is a magical combination. Burton has the flair that captures the feeling and intensity of this poet. Donne, known for his writing ability, his technique is known as conciet, can be dense to read. Burton opens up the words and the meanings with his rich voice and perfect inflection.

Whether you are timid about poetry or love John Donne, this is the point of no return.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Donne's depth and passion (Hardcover edition), April 28, 2002

By	stardustraven "stardustraven" (Europe) - See all my reviews

This lovely volume beautifully designed on creamy white paper brings to the reader the love poems of John Donne (1572-1631). A comprehensive and sympathetic introduction by the editor Charles Fowkes accompanies it. Mr. Fowkes sets out to explain the background of Donne's poetry and the influence thereof on his own life. But anyone who intends to read Donne should be well prepared. Although his use of language is colloquial, it's riddled with allusions. Donne certainly had a vivid and intense imagination. Further I think that familiarity with authors from the sixteenth or seventeenth centuries would be an asset.

Expect no cozy love poetry here. Donne's attitude is defiant and aggressive. He certainly knew all of the stages and emotions of love ranging from rapture to deep despair. The young Donne's disrespect for women and his intense sexuality might perhaps put some readers off. Though the courtship and marriage to Anne More (in 1601) would bring a change. In terms of class Anne was by far Donne's superior, and her father forbade the marriage. Yet Donne had deeply fallen in love, and put his career on the line to marry Anne secretly. It cut him down in arrogance. Anne died in 1617, worn out by her yearly pregnancies (Donne had quite an appetite).

The reader can track the courtship and marriage of Anne and John Donne throughout the poems. But often Donne will address an imaginary lady. As Mr. Fowkes indicates the background of his poetry is difficult to pinpoint. And add to this the fact which we should also not forget, that Donne was a Catholic who converted to the Anglican Church and felt guilty about it.

A complicated man harbouring many selves and souls. Even though I may not agree with Donne's aggressive ways in several poems, he expresses himself with such an intensity and passion (that I cannot avoid him), which makes up for some of the most compelling and brilliant poetry ever written in the English language.