"All possible art"; George Herbert's The country parson.

9780838641705

"All possible art"; George Herbert's The country parson.

Wolberg, Kristine A.

Fairleigh Dickinson U.P.

2008

165 pages

$43.50

Hardcover

PR3508

Wolberg, a Herbert scholar, seeks to reevaluate the poet's prose work, The Country Parson. On the surface a manual for Protestant preachers, it has generally been studied for clues to the life of Herbert. Wolberg, however, points out that in form it is very different from other guides for preachers. She sees it as much closer to Caroline courtesy books, particularly one, a translation from the Italian, Stefano Guazzo's The Civile Conversation. Wolberg feels that Herbert crafted his book with a definite literary agenda as well as an unorthodox belief that an outward change in behavior can lead to an inward change, rather that beginning with belief and assuming that it will manifest itself in altered actions. She argues persuasively for the inclusion of The Country Parson in any serious study of Herbert.

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