Herbert's Poetical Works

Poetical Works by George Herbert, 256 pages

George Herbert was perhaps the greatest of the Metaphysical poets - only Donne disputes the title.  Herbert lacks Donne's sophistication in both a positive and a negative sense - never as dazzling, but also never as contrived.  The Temple, the body of poems that comprises the vast majority of his surviving work (241 out of 256 pages in this volume), was not published in his lifetime, but was publicized by his executor, Nicholas Ferrar of Little Gidding.  Overall, they chart the personal journey of the author as a man of faith, through struggles with sin and doubt and misfortune to peace and a deeper love.

The 1857 R & R Clark edition of Herbert's works is charmingly illustrated by foliage borders and woodcuts.