麻豆社

Poet Daljit Nagra revisits the 麻豆社's poetry archive and selects Belief in Poetry featuring the work of John Donne.

Poet and theologian P谩draig 脫 Tuama considers the metaphysical poet and preacher鈥檚 complex faith life through his poetry, more than 450 years on from his birth.

P谩draig talks about Donne's belief with:

* Julie Sanders, Professor of English Literature and Drama at Newcastle University
* Mark Oakley, writer and Dean of St John鈥檚 College, Cambridge
* Michael Symmons Roberts, poet and Professor of Poetry at Manchester Metropolitan University.

John Donne was born in London in 1572 into the very precarious world of English recusant Catholicism. His mother was the grand-niece of Catholic martyr Thomas More. Religion would go on play a hugely significant but complex role throughout Donne鈥檚 life.

After Oxbridge (where he never received degrees, due to his Catholicism) he studied law at Lincoln鈥檚 Inn and looked destined for a legal or diplomatic career.
In his early 20s, much of his time and money was spent on women, books and travel as well as writing most of his famous love lyrics and erotic poems.

In 1601, he secretly married Sir Egerton鈥檚 niece, the 16-year-old Anne More. Disapproval of this clandestine marriage led to Donne being fired and there followed eight years in a wilderness of relative poverty.

In 1617, Donne鈥檚 wife died shortly after giving birth to their 12th child. Donne devoted his energy to more religious poetry and writings. Four years later, he became Dean of St. Paul鈥檚 Cathedral. He died at the age of 59.

Reader: Sir Simon Russell Beale

Producer: Rosie Boulton

A Must Try Softer production for 麻豆社 Radio 4, first broadcast in 2022.

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