John Donne, Andrew Marvell, George Herbert, Thomas Carew, and Henry Vaughan–these were some of the seventeenth-century writers who devised a new form of poetry full of wit, intellect, and grace, which we now call metaphysical poetry. They wrote about their deepest religious feelings and their carnal pleasures in a way that was radically new and challenging to their readers. Their work was largely misunderstood or ignored for two centuries, until twentieth-century critics rediscovered it, finding in it a deep originality and a willingness to experiment that made much conventional poetry look merely decorative. This collection provides the perfect introduction to this diverse group of fascinating poets.