About
George Herbert was a metaphysical poet and Anglican priest born at Montgomery Castle, Wales. From an influential family, he studied at Westminster and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he became Public Orator in 1620. After a brief parliamentary career, he was ordained and became rector of Fugglestone St Peter with Bemerton St Andrew in 1630. His major collection, The Temple, published posthumously in 1633, was highly successful. His poems, such as 'Easter Wings' and 'Love (III)', combine formal inventiveness with religious devotion. He died of tuberculosis in 1633, also leaving a pastoral guide, A Priest to the Temple.
* 1593-04-03 — † 1633-03-01
Major works
- The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations (1633)poetry collection
- A Priest to the Temple, or The Country Parson (1652)prose
Key milestones
- 1620Elected Public Orator of Cambridge University.
- 1630Appointed rector of Fugglestone St Peter with Bemerton St Andrew.
- 1633Posthumous publication of The Temple.
Themes
Religious devotionDivine gracePastoral lifeHumilityPoetry as prayer
Sources: britannica.com · poetryfoundation.org