Early on these are the obvious changes, from child to youth and so on. Each chapter, though, is structured around an aspect, or transformation, of Donne as a human. It’s largely chronological, thankfully, although bits of poetry and prose are scattered throughout to help illuminate Donne’s life. Neither of these things are necessary for an appreciation of this book – firstly, because Rundell chiefly praises Donne as the preeminent English poet of love (news to me), and also because Rundell gives a lovely, succinct explanation of all the things that have an impact on Donne’s life.Īs a biography, the structure of this book is inspired. I come to this book with some knowledge of the era, although not exhaustive. I come to John Donne loving him for “Death be not proud” I am not the greatest lover of poetry, but I know that piece by heart.
This book is wondrous – glorious – it’s poetic and soaring in its language, honest and brutal and passionate in its analysis of John Donne a wonderful biography, a snapshot history of late Elizabethan/ Jacobean politics and drama, and an inspired defence and encomium for Donne’s poetry. In Super-Infinite, Katherine Rundell shows us the many sides of Donne's extraordinary life, his obsessions, his blazing words, and his tempestuous Elizabethan times - unveiling Donne as the most remarkable mind and as a lesson in living.Courtesy of Allex&Unwin, it’s on sale now ($34.99, hard cover, and it’s beautiful). He was a scholar of law, a sea adventurer, an MP, a priest, the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral - and perhaps the greatest love poet in the history of the English language.
Sometime religious outsider and social disaster, sometime celebrity preacher and establishment darling, Donne was incapable of being just one thing. **A Sunday Times top ten bestseller** **Shortlisted for the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award 2023** **Shortlisted for the Duff Cooper Prize for Non-Fiction 2023** **Shortlisted for the Slightly Foxed First Biography Prize 2023** 'Masterly.' Observer 'Wonderful, joyous.' Maggie O'Farrell 'Frankly brilliant.' Sunday Times 'Unmissable.' Simon Jenkins 'Every page sparkles.' Claire Tomalin 'A triumph.' Matt Haig 'Stylish, scholarly and gripping.' Rose Tremain John Donne lived myriad lives.
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