In the preface to the first edition of The Temple, published in 1633, shortly after Herbert died, his close friend Nicholas Ferrar established the contours of Herbert's exemplary life story, a story that not only validated but was also presumably told in the poems of the volume. Herbert' put forth by the custodians of his literary works and reputation. Much of his early popularity-there were at least 11 editions of The Temple in the 17th century-no doubt owes something to the carefully crafted persona of 'holy Mr. Herbert’s poetry, although often formally experimental, is always passionate, searching, and elegant. Auden, Elizabeth Bishop, Anthony Hecht, and, perhaps Robert Frost-although these later poets are more abstract in their devotion to Herbert than were his 17th-century followers. Herbert's poetry would influence fellow poets such as Henry Vaughan, Richard Crashaw, Thomas Traherne, and then in later centuries Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Emily Dickinson, Gerard Manley Hopkins, T.

Nestled in the age of Shakespeare and Milton is the literary stalwart George Herbert, poet and Church of England clergyman.

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