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Episode 2

Katherine Rundell鈥檚 brilliant new biography explores Donne鈥檚 early years, the family鈥檚 religious dissent, and a rumour about Thomas More鈥檚 pickled head. Read by Blake Ritson.

Today Katherine Rundell鈥檚 engaging and witty new biography explores John Donne鈥檚 early years, the family鈥檚 history of religious dissent, and a rumour about Thomas More鈥檚 pickled head鈥

This prize-winning new biography of John Donne reveals him as an 鈥渋nfinity merchant鈥, a man whose preaching could make his congregation weep, a poet whose 鈥渂eauty deserved walk-on music鈥.

Rundell champions an impossible to categorise man: pirate, soldier, scholar, priest, inventor of new words and author of some of most intensely and intimately passionate poetry in English. Donne was a Catholic who lost - or left - his faith, from a family of martyrs, whose career led him to become Dean of Saint Paul鈥檚 Cathedral.

Read by Blake Ritson
Abridged by Richard Hamilton
Produced by Allegra McIlroy

14 minutes

Last on

Wed 22 Feb 2023 00:30

Broadcasts

  • Tue 21 Feb 2023 09:45
  • Wed 22 Feb 2023 00:30