This book presents a comprehensive digest of general and topical commentary on John Donne's Songs and Sonets from the early 17th century through 1999. Arranged chronologically within sections, the material in the present volume is organized under the following chapter headings: General Commentary; Autobiography and Persona; Critical Reception; Dating, Publication History, and Manuscript Tradition; Donne's Originality: Praise and Blame; Dramatic Elements; T. S. Eliot; Imagery; Language and Rhetoric; Love and Sexual Imagery; Mannerism and Baroque; Medievalism; Paradox; Petrarchism; Platonism; Psychological Analysis; Religion; Science and the New Learning; Versification; Wit and Metaphysical Conceit; Women.
This book was begun under the direction of Albert C. Labriola, who served as the Volume Commentary Editor until his death in March 2009. Completed by his students and colleagues with the Variorum project, the volume is dedicated to Professor Labriola's memory.
Gary A. Stringer is Professor of English, Emeritus, at the University of Southern Mississippi. Meg Lota Brown is Professor of English, Faculty Fellow, and Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Arizona. Eugene Cunnar is Professor Emeritus of English at New Mexico State University. Robert C. Evans is I. B. Young Professor of English at Auburn University at Montgomery. Robert T. Fallon is an emeritus professor of English at La Salle University. Kate Gartner Frost was Professor Emerita of English at the University of Texas at Austin. Corinee Guy is a Teaching Assistant at East Carolina University. Mitchell M. Harris is Associate Professor of English at Augustana College. Dayton Haskin is Professor of English at Boston College. Jeffrey Johnson is Professor of English at East Carolina University. George Klawitter is Professor of English (retired) at St. Edward's University and an adjunct professor at Holy Cross College at Notre Dame, Indiana. Gregory Kneidel is Associate Professor of English at the University of Connecticut. Tracy E. McLawhorn is Technology Editor and Assistant Textual Editor of the Donne Variorum. Sean Michael Morris is a Teaching Assistant Professor at East Carolina University. Mary A. Papazian serves as President of Southern Connecticut State University. Paul A. Parrish is Regents Professor of English Emeritus at Texas A&M University. Amy Criniti Phillips is an Assistant Professor of English at Wheeling Jesuit University. John R. Roberts is Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Missouri. William Shaw is a lecturer in North Carolina State's English department and a member of the graduate faculty. Gary A. Stringer is Professor of English, Emeritus, at the University of Southern Mississippi. Scott Vanderploeg is Professor of Humanities at Madisonville Community College, Kentucky. Matthew Vickless is Assistant Professor of English and Communication and Dean of the School of Professional Studies at Central Penn College. Julia M. Walker is Professor of English at the State University of New York, College at Geneseo. Richard Wollman is Professor of English at Simmons College.
