George Herbert: The English Poems of George Herbert

What does it mean to build a temple of the heart? George Herbert's The English Poems of George Herbert presents the complete English poetry of the greatest devotional poet in the English language. Herbert (1593-1633) was a priest, scholar, and poet whose volume The Temple, published posthumously in 1633, became one of the most widely read and influential collections of the seventeenth century. His poems explore intimate relationship with God through everyday imagery—altars, windows, collars, flowers, pulley, and collar—transforming ordinary objects into profound meditations on faith, doubt, grace, and divine love.

This definitive Cambridge University Press scholarly edition presents Herbert's complete English poems with extensive explanatory and textual apparatus. The text is meticulously annotated with historical, literary, and biblical information, as well as modern critical contexts that illuminate the poems. Herbert's poetry combines technical mastery (intricate stanza forms, pattern poems, wordplay) with emotional honesty and spiritual depth, creating verse that speaks directly to the soul. His poems move between joy and despair, rebellion and submission, always returning to God's love and grace with humility and wonder.

For contemplative readers, Herbert's poetry offers profound meditation on faith, grace, divine love, and the examined life. His work asks: How do we maintain relationship with God through doubt and darkness? What is the nature of grace? How do we offer our hearts as temples to the divine? Herbert's verse becomes a companion for spiritual seeking—teaching honest prayer, humble submission, joy in God's presence, and the conviction that even our struggles and rebellions can become offerings of love.

What You'll Discover
Herbert's complete English poems in definitive scholarly edition
Cambridge University Press edition with extensive annotations and apparatus
The Temple and all poems with historical, literary, and biblical context
Celebrated poems including "The Altar," "Easter Wings," "Love (III)," and "The Collar"
Glossary of key words, index of biblical quotations, and authentic texts
Seventeenth-century devotional poetry of extraordinary craft and spiritual depth

George Herbert (1593-1633) was born into an aristocratic Welsh family and educated at Cambridge, where he became Public Orator. He seemed destined for a brilliant career at court, but after a spiritual crisis he was ordained as an Anglican priest and spent his final years as rector of a small parish in Bemerton. There he wrote the poems of The Temple and lived a life of humble service. He died of consumption at age 39, sending his manuscript to a friend with instructions to publish it only if it might "turn to the advantage of any dejected poor soul." The poems have comforted and inspired readers for nearly 400 years, influencing poets from Henry Vaughan to T.S. Eliot.

Perfect for: Readers of mystical and spiritual poetry, students of George Herbert and devotional literature, contemplative readers exploring Christian faith, those interested in metaphysical poetry and 17th-century literature, anyone drawn to poetry of technical mastery and spiritual depth, readers of Anglican spirituality and sacred verse, students of English poetry and biblical imagery, admirers of verse that transforms everyday objects into profound meditations on divine love.

Paperback scholarly edition. Herbert's complete English poems—offering contemplative wisdom on faith, grace, and divine love through the technically masterful, spiritually profound voice of English devotional poetry's greatest master.