Sir Herbert John Clifford Grierson (1866-1960) was a scholar of English literature; he became the first professor of English at Aberdeen in 1894, and was later Professor of English literature at Edinburgh University from 1915 until his retirement in 1935. Further details are provided in the Dictionary of National Biography.

The poems of John Donne (2 vols., Oxford, 1912) interleaved and annotated, plus letters to Sir Herbert.

Given to the Library by Sir Herbert in 1953.

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card (for admissions procedures see http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/services/admissions/).

M. Clapinson and T.D. Rogers, Summary Catalogue of Post-Medieval Western Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library Oxford. Acquisitions 1916-1975. (Oxford, 1991), vol. II, nos. 46483-5.

See the chapter on Donne (written by Grierson) in the Cambridge History of English Literature ; his two volume edition The poems of John Donne for the Clarendon Press, published in 1912; his anthology of Metaphysical Lyrics and Poems of the Seventeenth Century, (Clarendon Press, 1921); and The Oxford Book of Seventeenth Century Verse which he co-edited with G. Bullough (Clarendon Press, 1934).

Metaphysical poetry | Criticism and interpretation

Poetry, English | 16th century

Poetry, English | 17th century

Donne | John | 1573-1631 | Dean of St. Paul's and poet

Grierson | Sir | Herbert John Clifford | 1866-1960 | knight and Professor of English literature at Edinburgh University