John Donne : Man of Flesh and Spirit

by Edwards, David L.

• ISBN13: 9780802805225
• ISBN10: 0802805221
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-07-01
• Publisher: Eerdmans Pub Co

Summary

John Donne is best known as England's poet of love -- but he was much else besides. He was also a peerless writer of the spiritual journey, a stalwart churchman, and a great preacher. Yet behind this famed public face there also lived a lesser known tortured and contradictory figure.

This extraordinary biography paints a compelling new portrait of Donne as a man of both spirit and flesh. David Edwards ranges across all of Donne's writings, including critically neglected sermons, using them to illuminate Donne's life and vice versa. Itself a masterpiece of writing, this book challenges common views with wit and a critical compassion that does not fail to let Donne speak to readers in his own words.

Author Biography

David L. Edwards retired as Provost of Southwark Cathedral, London, in 1994. He was formerly a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, Dean of King's College, Cambridge, and a Canon of Westminster Abbey and the Speaker's Chaplain in the House of Commons

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Illustrations	xi
Dates	xii
Donne's Life
The questions	3	(31)
At the dore	34	(29)
Winter-seeming	63	(35)
Thou hast done	98	(39)
About Donne
Thou hast not done	137	(21)
Deare honestie	158	(35)
Donne Speaks
Let my body raigne	193	(31)
Batter my heart	224	(20)
Admyring her	244	(55)
The Trumpet	299	(52)
Further reading	351	(8)
Index of Writings	359	(4)
General Index	363