Simon Schama's John Donne

John Donne (1572–1631), one of the landmark poets of 17th-century Britain, left a legacy of works that personalized the language of love as had never been done previously. He transcended the emotion's abstractness and (in the words of the program's producer/narrator) "anatomizes love." This remarkable BBC production examines the interrelationship between Donne's often-turbulent personal life and his moving verse; Schama and actress Fiona Shaw present key elements of his work and then offer their own interpretations of the messages and significance. Donne, a vain and personally ambitious Catholic outsider during the Protestant reign of James I, did whatever was necessary to attain social recognition and position, yet he could pen language that is more everlasting than most political accomplishments. The program is nicely paced and supported by pleasant original music. Chapter selection is not an option, but the on-screen English-language subtitles are welcome as the narrators' British accents are quite pronounced (so to speak). Unfortunately, the costly price will limit the availability of what would otherwise be a valuable addition to secondary school, academic, and public libraries.—Dwain Thomas, William Rainey Harper Coll., Palatine, IL