George Herbert

David Reid (University of Stirling)
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George Herbert, the fifth son of Richard and Magdalene Herbert, was born in 1593, descended on both sides from distinguished Welsh Border families. He was fourth cousin of the third and fourth Earls of Pembroke, sons of Sir Philip Sidney's sister, Mary. By birth he belonged to the ruling class, and this proud, ambitious, eager spirit was brought to become a country parson only after long disappointment of his worldly hopes, illness and doubt about his spiritual vocation. The impress of this disappointment is on

The Temple

, which, whilst not a spiritual autobiography, he described, according to his seventeenth century biographer, Izaak Walton, as “a picture of the many conflicts that have past betwixt God and my Soul, before I could subject mine to the will of Jesus my Master”.

After

1645 words

Citation: Reid, David. "George Herbert". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 June 2002 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5006, accessed 19 March 2024.]

5006 George Herbert 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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