The Poetic Imagination: An Anglican Spiritual Tradition

As an Anglican priest with a deep interest in poetry, I looked forward immensely to reading this book, and in large part it did not disappoint. The first chapter, in particular, in which the author discusses the whole concept of 'A Poetic Spirituality'is brilliant, and well worth the price of the book by itself! Almost as good is chapter 2, 'Resources of Image and Language', in which the author discusses in a helpful way Anglican attitudes to Scripture, Liturgy, and Creation. Where the book does disappoint is the rather narrow choice of poets discussed, and the failure to consider how their individual work can be understood as part of an identifiable tradition, called in the subtitle 'An Anglican Spiritual Tradition'. Countryman admits that his choice was shaped by those books he happened to have on his own shelves, and by and large they are 'standard' religious classics, such as Vaughan, Traherne, Herbert, etc. Here his exposition is sound, if not exactly original or challenging. It is when he turns to the more modern writers, such as Auden, R.S. Thomas, and the Australian Judith Wright that more doubts set in. He appears not to notice how different they are from their predecessors, such that we might question whether they belong to the same tradition at all. Countryman's basic thesis that the Anglican poetic tradition is essentially devotional rather than didactic is questionable in Auden's case and, I would argue, plain wrong in Thomas'. [I am not familiar enough with Wright's work to comment on her case.] But overall, I do commend this book, with a final niggle addressed to the publishers. This is said to be a volume in the 'Traditions of Christian Spirituality Series', and there is a preface about the series by Philip Sheldrake, Series Editor. Alas, nowhere is there a list of titles, published or to be published, in the series. Black mark for DLT!

I have not read this book but I did attend a workshop with Dr. Countryman where he read from a manuscript of this book. The manuscript material was very good, especially his discussion of the sprituality of John Donne and George Herbert. After hearing Dr. Countryman I have developed a new facet of my own spirituality which is the use of poetry. I am sure that you will not be disappointed with this book.