Overview

George Herbert is widely regarded as the greatest devotional poet the world has known. Here Richard Harries introduces the poet and reflects on 24 of his greatest poems, six for each of the four weeks of Advent. Each week focuses on a different theme. Week 1: Winning the Heart Week 2: Held by Christ Week 3: Welcome Week 4: All Praise After each poem Richard Harries reflects on the poet’s sense of the divine and draws out spiritual insights for the reader to think about as they prepare to celebrate Christ's appearing. The result is a book that readers will want to return to over and over again, whether during Advent or in any other season of the year.

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9780281089420

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Reviews

'George Herbert! What poet is wiser, deeper, fresher, clearer? And Richard Harries! Who else today can match Herbert at all points? This profound little gem will draw you deeper into loving God, poetry and life.'--David F. Ford OBE, Regius Professor of Divinity Emeritus, University of Cambridge, England 'If you are a person who struggles to access or articulate the deep emotions of faith, then this book will be of interest. With insight and sensitivity, Harries explores the way in which Herbert's poetry mirrors the ups and downs of our own faith journeys, and helps the modern mind to connect with themes, such as sin, judgement and woundedness, that may seem outdated. Wounded I Sing is an Advent song for the soul which, with all the intensity of the minor key, plumbs the depths of sorrow but emerges rejoicing.'--Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford, England 'Like the season of Advent, Herbert's poems are often in the vocative. They shout out to God for some repair, forgiveness or answer. To bring them together is very helpful and, placed together with the creative curation and spiritual intelligence of Richard Harries, we are given a valuable companion. In the world, Advent is at risk.This book ensures that people of faith will know it and draw from it, as the poetic well of wisdom and hope it is for the human spirit.'--Mark Oakley, Dean of Southwark Cathedral, England, and author of My Sour-Sweet Days 'This is a book of extraordinary beauty - compelling, elegant, pro found, spiritual and moving. For those who find poetry difficult, this is an excellent way in; for those who know their George Herbert well, there is much that they can learn. Richard Harries has written a book that uses poetry as a vehicle for preparation (whether for Advent or for any other season). It will become a spiritual classic of our time.'--Ian S. Markham, President of Virginia Theological Seminary and of General Theological Seminary, USA

Author Information

Richard Harries is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and an Honorary Professor of Theology at King’s College, London. On his retirement as Bishop of Oxford (1987-2006) he was made a life peer (Lord Harries of Pentregarth). He is the author of many critically acclaimed books, including Hearing God in Poetry (SPCK, 2021), Seeing God in Art (SPCK, 2022) and his moving autobiography The Shaping of a Soul: a life taken by surprise (John Hunt 2023). Art and the Beauty of God (Continuum, 1993) was selected as book of the year by Anthony Burgess in The Observer. A much loved voice on BBC’s Today programme, he has contributed to ‘Thought for the Day’ for more than 50 years.

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