Review: The Poems of St. John of the Cross trans by John Frederick Nims

Synopsis: This is an acedemic study of the best known poems of San Juan de la Cruz, or St. John of the Cross, a Carmelite Friar and Spanish Mystic who lived during the late 1500s. He is best known for his mystic work The Dark Knight of the Soul. He is considered by many to be the greatest Spanish poet in history.

Review: This book was more academic than I expected. The book opens with the Spanish and English versions of each poems. The poems include The Codex of Sanlucar de Barrameda and Additional Poems. The last third of the book includes the life history of San Juan, textual and historical analysis of the poems,and a expose on the Spanish text. This is an excellent place to start if you are interested an academic study of his poems. The language is clear, concise, and accessible. Worth reading, and an excellent addition to any poetry lover's library.

Bookmarks: 7 of 10

Awards: None

ISBN: 0-226-40110-3
Year Published: 1959 (Third Edition, 1979, Reprint 1986)
Date Finished: 4-11-2016
Pages: 151