John Donne and English Puritanism, 1650-1700

In recent decades, it has become clear that John Donne's seventeenth-century readership is larger and more varied than was once believed. One audience that has not been given much scholarly attention, however, is English puritans on both sides of the Atlantic. This article brings to light several possible avenues for the transmission of Donne's works to these readers and then identifies explicit references and poetic allusions to Donne by writers of these theological and ecclesiastical persuasions.

Automated summary

It has been discovered in recent years that John Donne's readership in the seventeenth century was larger and more diverse than previously believed. This article explores the transmission of Donne's works to English puritans on both sides of the Atlantic and identifies explicit references and poetic allusions to Donne made by writers influenced by these theological and ecclesiastical persuasions.