The Temple

A collectible new Penguin Classics series: stunning, clothbound editions of ten favourite poets, which present each poet's most famous book of verse as it was originally published. Designed by the acclaimed Coralie Bickford-Smith and beautifully set, these slim, A format volumes are the ultimate gift editions for poetry lovers. On his deathbed George Herbert entrusted the manuscript of The Temple to his friend Nicholas Ferrar, asking him to publish it if he thought it was worthy.
Herbert died in 1633 and the collection was published the same year to much acclaim. The Temple is an astounding collection of English verse poems with a central religious theme. The volume is a meditation on man's relationship to God and is characterised by Herbert's clarity and directness of style. This collection includes 'The Collar', a lyrical poem on submission to Divine Will and 'The Pearl', a manifestation of man's love for God.