John Donne's Poetry

In this 1975 text Dr Sanders approaches John Donne beginnings with his arresting voice; individual and often puzzling. He asks of the live poetry and religious poetry alike where is Donne speaking his own voice when is he adopting a persona what is the effect of his irony? And he goes on what affects us as true and fine when is Donne the prey of his own manner and self-irony; when is he conventionally amorous cynical or pious? From this consideration Dr Sanders returns with a central body of poems which he considers great and unique. Many readers of Donne ask themselves uncomfortably whether their admiration is merely fashionable or their dissatisfaction merely a reaction against fashion. Dr Sanders''s calm examination proceeds from a disinterested wish to to find what is admirable but not to lose sight of common-sense judgements exemplified in the past by Johnson.