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Super-Infinite
- The Transformations of John Donne
- Narrated by: Jamie Parker
- Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins
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Super-Infinite
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Summary
John Donne lived myriad lives. Sometime religious outsider and social disaster, sometime celebrity preacher and establishment darling, John Donne was incapable of being just one thing. He was a scholar of law, a sea adventurer, an MP, a priest, the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral - and perhaps the greatest love poet in the history of the English language. He converted from Catholicism to Protestantism, was imprisoned for marrying a high-born girl without her father's consent, struggled to feed a family of ten children and was often ill and in pain. He was a man who suffered from black surges of sadness, yet expressed in his verse electric joy and love.
From a standout scholar, a biography of John Donne: the poet of love, sex, and death. In Super-Infinite, Katherine Rundell embarks on a fleet-footed 'act of evangelism', showing us the many sides of Donne's extraordinary life, his obsessions, his blazing words, and his tempestuous Elizabeth times - unveiling Donne as the most remarkable mind and as a lesson in living.
Critic reviews
"Every page sparkles." (Claire Tomalin)
"Crackling with gusto and sympathetic intelligence." (Andrew Motion)
"A triumph." (Matt Haig)
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What listeners say about Super-Infinite
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 26-10-22
Breathtaking
What an astounding book. Katherine Rundell’s storytelling, syntax and composition is breathtaking. Jamie Parker’s narration is astounding, each word so perfectly judged, read at the tempo that the writing deserved.
The best book I’ve ever listened to. Just beautiful.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- PC
- 17-12-22
fabulous and fascinating....
a real insight into this brilliant and querky poet's mind and theology at a turning point in English history. too often forgotten
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Adrian Bushen
- 08-12-22
Infinitely recommended
One of the great biographies. A richness of language that mirrors the poet’s. An exhilarating experience.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- MRS VA DARE
- 11-01-23
A dazzling portrait
Brilliant portrait of a fascinating man and a vivid immersion into life at the time.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 29-08-23
Pleasantly surprised
I decided to buy this book not knowing anything about it because it looked half interesting and was recommended reading on a youtube channel i follow.
I went into this book not knowing anything about John Donne and perhaps knowing even less about poetry.
Although this type of biographical work isn't normally the kind of book I read, i had a good time listening to it and found it more absorbing than I expected. It was educational in a witty and entertaining way
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Pete Slee
- 07-09-22
JOHN DONNE, ANNE DONNE, UNDONE!
A great insight into the life and times of a poet I studied at school. Well written, well read and very accessible.
Like any biography of an historic figure, I take some of her conclusions with a pinch of salt, but Katherine is careful to own the possible ambiguities and yet paints a colourful and detailed portrait of the man.
Would love to be transported back to hear his preaching at St. Paul's!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 11-08-23
So intelligent, so well researched - and absolutely enthralling
I was resignedly disappointed that the decision was made that this erudite and fascinating biography written by a woman should be read by a man. It is - or should be - a disgrace, but the reading is really superb, nuanced and emotionally flexible. This is really such an illuminating book and, despite its high level of scholarship, refreshingly readable (listenable?). I loved it.
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- Chris N.
- 12-07-23
Erudite and entertaining.
Donne's kaleidoscopic mind explored with colour; adventure. As one would expect from a children's author!
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- Robbie Stamp
- 09-02-23
A Beard Trimmed by an Ice Skate
Genuinely one of the best written, most profound and beautiful books I’ve listened to on Audible. The author’s own sense of language provides a lattice in which to explore John Donne of whom I had always been a little frightened before!
The performance is also wonderful.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Dan
- 08-06-23
So good
I’m so glad Katherine Rundell wrote this, what a gift. Will probably listen to it again.
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