God's courtier: configuring a different grace in George Herbert's Temple

Abstract

George Herbert is regarded as a metaphysical and at times a solely religious poet. In this book, Marion Singleton focuses on the relation between Herbert's poetry and the cultural background of his life. Singleton examines the style, structure and thematic basis of The Temple in the context of the Renaissance ideal of aristocratic courtliness. She provides a detailed study of Herbert's association with the literary tradition of the courtier and his strategic use of it in The Temple. God's Courtier touches upon issues of relevance not only to its nominal subject but also to the courtier poet tradition in general. Thus, it will interest literary historians as well as scholars of sixteenth- and seventeenth- century literature.