Complete Poetry and Selected Prose

Dive into the profound and passionate world of John Donne with this comprehensive Modern Library edition, a cornerstone collection presenting the full spectrum of his genius. Readers will discover his iconic metaphysical love poetry, including beloved pieces like "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning" and "The Extasie," alongside intimate love elegies such as "To His Mistris Going to Bed." Beyond the romantic, the volume delves into Donne's sharp intellect through his satires, epigrams, and deeply moving Holy Sonnets. It also features his most ambitious poetic endeavors, the Anniversaries, which showcase his theological and philosophical depth. Further enriching this collection is a generous selection of Donne's prose, offering a window into his private thoughts through letters, his biting satire in "Ignatius His Conclave," excerpts from his controversial defense of suicide, "Biathanatos," and culminating with his most famous sermons, including the chilling "Death's Duell." This edition encapsulates the arresting voice that Virginia Woolf so eloquently praised, inviting readers to experience the enduring power of a literary titan whose words continue to resonate across centuries.