Five Metaphysical Poets

Mrs Bennett’s Four Metaphysical Poets – Donne, Herbert, Vaughan, and Crashaw – was issued under a new title in 1964 with an additional chapter on Andrew Marvell. It is that text which is reprinted here. In her study Mrs Bennett has analysed, emphasised and illustrated the qualities of metaphysical poetry in general, and the peculiarities of the individual poets. She shows that, if we retain the word ‘metaphysical’ as a label for a poetic tradition, it is as appropriate to Marvell as it is to Vaughan, and more so than to Crashaw.