One of a series of works aimed at presenting contemporary opinion on major authors, this collection includes essays by Helen Gardner, George Saintsbury, Herbert J. C. Grierson, Pierre Legouis, William Empson, Mario Praz, J. E. V. Crofts, C. S. Lewis, Cleanth Brooks, J. B. Leishman, Evelyn M. Simpson, Louis L. Martz, and A. J. Smith--all dealing with the biography and literary work of John Donne. Designed for use by both literary critics and secondary and college teachers of English, this work would also be of value to undergraduate and graduate students of literature. The essays discuss Donne's love poetry, the dramatic element in Donne's poetry, Donne in relation to other poets of the seventeenth century, the religious poetry of Donne, the literary value of Donne's sermons, and Donne's meditations. A chronology of important dates in Donne's life, a brief set of biographical notes on the contributors to this collection, and a bibliography of works on Donne complete the volume. (LL)