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Read by Richard Mitchley, Ghizela Rowe & Gideon Wagner (Unabridged: 1hr 1min)
John Donne was born on 22nd January 1572 in London into a Roman Catholic family when Catholicism was illegal in England and there was turbulence and unrest with both state and church throughout much of Europe. His father, also named John, died when he was 4 and his mother, Elizabeth Heywood married a wealthy widower, ensuring the family were looked after. He received a good education in both Oxford and Cambridge but was unable to obtain a degree without taking the Oath of Supremacy, which as a Catholic, he refused to do.
During the 1590's Donne wrote a wide range of verse including both erotic and sacred poems, creating two major volumes of work. His strong, vivacious and sensual style fusing intellect and passion as well as inventive use of subtle argument and syntax provided a new radical perspective that reached beyond his contemporaries and continues to chime and charm poetry lovers throughout the ages.
Difficult to believe that with this enormous talent, Donne, lived in poverty for many years, exacerbated by his secret marriage to Ann More, which meant no dowry, and their having twelve children. Later he served in Parliament and became Dean of St Pauls in 1621, noted for his learned and charismatic sermons.
John Donne died in London on 31st March, 1631 but leaves an enormous legacy of many splendid and influential poems. He was known as the founder of the Metaphysical Poets and is widely regarded as one of Britain's best loved poets.
In this compilation -
01 - John Donne - An Introduction |
02 - The Sunne Rising by John Donne |
03 - Daybreak by John Donne |
04 - Lovers' Infiniteness by John Donne |
05 - Time And Absence by John Donne |
06 - Present in Absence by John Donne |
07 - Self-Love by John Donne |
08 - Sweetest Love I Do Not Go by John Donne |
09 - Stay O Sweet by John Donne |
10 - The Dream by John Donne |
11 - The Good Morrow by John Donne |
12 - Love's Deity by John Donne |
13 - The Undertaking by John Donne |
14 - The Ectasy by John Donne |
15 - The Message by John Donne |
16 - The Flea by John Donne |
17 - The Prohibition by John Donne |
18 - The Primrose by John Donne |
19 - The Storm by John Donne |
20 - For Whom the Bell Tolls by John Donne |
21 - Holy Sonnets I by John Donne |
22 - Holy Sonnets III by John Donne |
23 - Holy Sonnets V by John Donne |
24 - Holy Sonnets VII by John Donne |
25 - Holy Sonnets VIII by John Donne |
26 - Holy Sonnets XIV by John Donne |
27 - Holy Sonnets XVIII by John Donne |
28 - A Nocturnal Upon St Lucy's Day, Being the Shortest Day by John Donne |
29 - A Hymn to God the Father by John Donne |
30 - Nativity by John Donne |
31 - The Relic by John Donne |
32 - Witchcraft By a Picture by John Donne |
33 - The Expiration by John Donne |
34 - A Valediction, Forbidding Mourning by John Donne |
35 - The Funeral by John Donne |
36 - Death Be Not Proud by John Donne |