George Herbert (1593–1633) is widely regarded as the greatest devotional poet in the English language. His profound influence can be seen in the lasting popularity of his verse. This selection of one hundred lyric poems by Herbert is designed for readers to enjoy the beauty, spirituality, accessibility and humanity of his best verse. Each poem uses the authoritative text from the acclaimed Cambridge edition of Herbert's poems, presenting them in their original spelling in a clear and elegant format. The selection includes such well-loved lyric verses as 'Love bade me welcome', 'Let all the world in ev'ry corner sing', 'I struck the board and cry'd, No more' and 'Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright'. A preface by Helen Wilcox, editor of the Cambridge edition, celebrates the key features of Herbert's poetry for a new generation of readers.

'How is it that poems of a 17th-century aristocrat still resonate with our own religious sensibilities? Helen Wilcox's chastely edited volume of Herbert's lyrical poems provides a rich and persuasive answer.' Richard Lischer, Christian Century

Helen Wilcox is Professor of English Literature at the University of Wales, Bangor. She is the editor of the critically acclaimed edition of The English Poems of George Herbert, published by Cambridge University Press in 2007.