The Complete Poems

by Henry Vaughan, Alan Rudrum (Editor)

Less worldly than Donne or Herbert, to whyom he is indebted, Vaughan wrote poetry that is both mysterious and richly suggestive. This volume collects all of his poetry

Genres: Poetry, Classics, Literature, Christianity, Religion, Fiction, Anthologies

720 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1981

About the author

Henry Vaughan (1621-1695) was a Welsh author, physician and metaphysical poet.

Vaughan and his twin brother, the hermetic philosopher and alchemist, Thomas Vaughan, were the sons of Thomas Vaughan and his wife Denise (née Morgan) of 'Trenewydd', Newton, in Brecknockshire, Wales. Their grandfather, William, was the owner of Tretower Court.

Vaughan spent most of his life in the village of Llansantffraed, near Brecon, where he is also buried.

Reviews

[Karen]

Another 17th century metaphysical Welsh poet influenced by George Herbert

Some passages are memorable e.g. form "The World"

I saw eternity the other night
Like a great ring of pure and endless light,
All calm as it was bright,
And round beneath it time in hours, days, years,
Driven by the spheres,
Like a vast shadow moved in which the world
And all her train were hurled.

[Alex Kartelias · Rating 3 out of 5]

First read is poetry in 10th grade in a anthology of English poetry and loved him. But I find a lot of his work to be dull. Some of it is sublime- such as The Retreat, my favorite verse of his- but perhaps the archaic nature of his English turned me off. Still glad that I ventured to read a classic poet.

[GRANT · Rating 5 out of 5]

My distant relation who shares my surname. My blog posts on Henry:

http://www.moderatebutpassionate.com/...

http://www.moderatebutpassionate.com/...

http://www.moderatebutpassionate.com/...